Black Friday 2012
Reports and insights from Reuters correspondents about the latest news and trends during the 2012 holiday shopping season.
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Get ready to hear a lot about the Eagle Talon Castle, the LeapPad2 from LeapFrog and the reincarnation of Furby - all of which toy industry insiders predict will be hot sellers this year.
These toys have all won coveted spots on multiple "hot" toy lists for the holiday shopping season in 2012.
And that is no accident.
(By Mitch Lipka) -
Thanksgiving is now the start of the annual holiday shopping endurance race. Target has joined Wal-Mart and Gap in being open at least part of Thursday, and some retailers will be open throughout the day, a trend that began to take hold in 2011.
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People shop inside Macy's department store as the busy holiday shopping season begins in New York, November 17, 2012. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri
by Eric Martyn via Pictures.reuters 11/22/2012 2:53:24 PM -
Policemen walk along Central Park West as the Hello Kitty balloon waits for the start of the 86th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York November 22, 2012. REUTERS/Gary Hershorn
by Eric Martyn via Pictures.reuters 11/22/2012 2:55:53 PM -
Should you be worried that if you shop today, you will miss out on later discounts, you might consider price matching...but, then again, you might be too lazy.
Why holiday price matching does not pay off -
Can Oprah revive the U.S. economy by making you want to buy expensive gifts?
The return of the aspirational gift list
(by Mitch Lipka) -
CNN: "what is it that you're going to get by waiting on line in the freezing cold that you can't just get online?" Kmart: "thrill of hunt."by moorehn via twitter 11/22/2012 6:26:35 PM -
Empty cash registers at Kmart on 34th, awaiting bigger crowds via @bethpinsker p.twimg.com/A8U02A0CIAARwTV.jpg
by Reuters Money via twitter 11/22/2012 6:28:04 PM -
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Modest sized crowd at Walmart in Westbury, Long Island $WMT yfrog.com/nt11mfmj
by Phil Wahba via twitter 11/22/2012 7:05:33 PM -
Via IBM - iPhone is driving more retail shopping than any other deviceby Reuters Money via twitter 11/22/2012 7:11:52 PM
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Most popular product search of Thanksgiving Day on PriceGrabber:
Surface 10.6" 64 GB Wi-Fi Black Tablet w/ Black Touch Cover -
Some still camped out waiting in line, rather than already shopping:
Dispatch from Barbara Liston (ORLANDO, Fla):
Three generations of Orlando’s Garcia-Diaz family are spending their second Thanksgiving in a row in two tents in front of Best Buy to snag the door-buster sales. The family is planning to purchase at least four 40-inch TVs for their 2,300-square-foot home, even though they have yet to open two TVs they bought at Best Buy’s Black Friday door-buster sale in 2011, said Itzaida Diaz, 43, a company staff accountant.
“We’re basically replacing all of the tubes,” Diaz said, adding that her husband, mail carrier Modesto Garcia, 45, refused to open a 42-inch TV from 2011 until the tube TV it was intended to replace konks out.
By camping in shifts, the couple, their 18-year-old son Arian Garcia, a college student, and Diaz's mother have been able to go to work and classes, and to take showers at home. For their Thanksgiving meal, Diaz cooked a ham at home Thursday morning, and her sister is planning to drop off some turkey, rice and beans for a family picnic on a folding camp table in the parking lot.
“It’s actually been fun,” said Diaz. “We socialize with the others in the line. A lot of them are repeats. We knew them last year.” -
Robert Reich weighs in on $WMT labor protests: http://www.salon.com/2012/11/21/dont_shop_at_wal_mart_on_friday/ via @Salonby Brad Dorfman via twitter 11/22/2012 8:17:26 PM -
Not interested in spending money on Black Friday? Try some freebies: http://dealnews.com/features/Updated-The-Best-Black-Friday-Freebies-for-In-Store-Shoppers/634078.htmlby Reuters Money via twitter 11/22/2012 8:29:36 PM
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Thanksgiving Day shopping: retailer sales trump tradition http://reut.rs/UMyYWS via @tweetsfromniviby Reuters Money via twitter 11/22/2012 8:30:52 PM
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Two lone shoppers in line at Target in Westbury, NY for TVs $TGT #BlackFriday waiting for 9pm open yfrog.com/odxociij
by Phil Wahba via twitter 11/22/2012 8:40:25 PM -
Nearly empty Old Navy $GPS on Long Island - ppl seem to be heading home for turkey yfrog.com/od4vticdj
by Phil Wahba via twitter 11/22/2012 8:47:20 PM -
Strange bedfellows. Outlet mall on Long Island. Also a Bloomie's outlet, Nordstrom Rack $SKS $GP yfrog.com/h3yldrmj
by Phil Wahba via twitter 11/22/2012 8:54:17 PM -
RT @KathrynFinney: TBF Newsletter: How to Shop and Help Hurricane Sandy Victims at the Same Time and More #constantcontact http://t.co/S ...by Beth Pinsker via twitter 11/22/2012 9:06:20 PM -
$JCP in Garden City, Long Island, hoping fun xmas buttons bring in #BlackFriday shoppers tomorrow yfrog.com/eskl0hfj
by Phil Wahba via twitter 11/22/2012 9:10:29 PM -
Walmart has put out barricades for 8pm #BlackFriday sales yfrog.com/h2w8chouj
by Phil Wahba via twitter 11/22/2012 9:33:51 PM -
Line starting to form at Best Buy $BBY in Long Island. People eyeing as ever big TVs #BlackFriday yfrog.com/ociazsrxj
by Phil Wahba via twitter 11/22/2012 10:41:05 PM -
Walmart doorbusters include Hasbro Furby's-but have to wait til 8pm, earlies BF open ever $HAS $WMT yfrog.com/j2c9jthj
by Phil Wahba via twitter 11/22/2012 10:43:16 PM -
Black Friday is like the Super Bowl for retailers, and it's game on for employees www.dallasnews.com
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Black Friday: Because only in America people trample each other for sales exactly one day after being thankful for what they already have.by Anti Joke Apple via twitter 11/22/2012 11:03:16 PM -
Ever earlier starts on Thanksgiving
Moody's senior retail analyst Charles O'Shea tells us he expect "Black Friday" creep to continue. "People are voting with their feet" by showing up. Thinks Sears 8pm opening is big proof of how important it's getting for retailers. He also thinks it makes particular sense for retailers that also sell food like say Target.. -
People like midnight openings
Lines starting to form at Best Buy in Westbury, Long Island- people like the midnight openings better than the 4pm of a few years ago. "It's fewer hours of waiting," said Evrett Galindo, 25, an area automotive technician. Besides, he has to work in the morning.. -
RT @LaurenLaCapra: Wal-Mart Workers Will Walk Off The Job On Black Friday: Gothamist http://bit.ly/ShctuLby Beth Pinsker via twitter 11/22/2012 11:20:04 PM
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Some early Thanksgiving sales data from IBM: The number of shoppers using a mobile device to visit a retailer's site has already reached a record 28 percent (As of 6 pm eastern) Whoa! -
"@WSJ: Going up: view a timelapse of what it takes to get Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons in the air. http://on.wsj.com/UhjzSc" $Mby Phil Wahba via twitter 11/22/2012 11:27:20 PM
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Very excited about reporting from @mallofamerica (one of the largest U.S. malls) later tonight! #BlackFriday @Reutersby Dhanya.Skariachan via twitter 11/22/2012 11:29:11 PM
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More than 180 stores at the @mallofamerica will open at the stroke of midnight for #blackfriday shopping palooza: spokewoman tells @reuters
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Retailers are targeting "post-pie" commerce, the jump in shopping created by the boom in smartphones and tablet computers which Thanksgiving diners grab as they collapse onto the couch after eating turkey and pumpkin pie.While people relax with family and friends or watch football on TV, they are increasingly shopping online with these mobile gadgets, creating a surge in traffic and purchases that retailers are beginning to target for the first time this year."This is a new shoppable moment," said Steve Yankovich, who heads the mobile business of eBay Inc, operator of the largest online marketplace.
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We have had at least a couple of sightings of people lined up at Best Buy, some of them for days and in tents. Are there particularly good deals this year? Is it just family tradition? Was there a reason for them to join the crowd that opened during Thanksgiving Day?
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RT @BrianSozzi: It's 8:00 pm, #BlackFridayCREEP has officially begunby Brad Dorfman via twitter 11/23/2012 1:03:21 AM
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Hundreds outside Times Square Toys R Us #BlackFriday p.twimg.com/A8WQe76CEAASCTd.jpg
by Martinne Geller via twitter 11/23/2012 1:08:25 AM -
The IBM data: Early evening results for Thanksgiving 2012 indicate that consumers are continuing to shop online with sales up 17.1 percent over Thanksgiving 2011 for the same time period.
Mobile shopping also is maintaining a strong day:
1. Mobile Traffic: The number of consumers using a mobile device to visit a retailer's site reached a record 28 percent.
2. Mobile Shopping: The number of consumers using their mobile device to make a purchase is 15.1 percent. -
Security tries to keep the line of santa hats from blocking doors to Times Square's Foot Locker, Swatch. p.twimg.com/A8WRprjCEAAUgJV.jpg
by Martinne Geller via twitter 11/23/2012 1:13:31 AM -
RT @ADInnocenzio: Just interviewed same guy from last year who was first in line at aBest Buy. Either he needs to get a life or I need to get a life.by Dhanya.Skariachan via twitter edited by anthony.derosa 11/23/2012 1:21:04 AM
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Retailers aren't the only ones working on Thanksgiving. #BlackFriday p.twimg.com/A8WVHwZCcAA1J3L.jpg
by Martinne Geller via twitter 11/23/2012 1:28:41 AM -
Line outside the Elston #Target for #BlackFriday not too long yet, one hour to go p.twimg.com/A8WZ-H2CIAAVinc.jpg
by Jessica Wohl via twitter 11/23/2012 1:49:52 AM -
Crowd inside Wal-Mart in Bloomington, Minn. It stayed open on #Thanksgiving and will offer #BlackFriday deals in waves p.twimg.com/A8WcIRfCIAAncTR.jpg
by Dhanya.Skariachan via twitter 11/23/2012 1:59:18 AM -
And they're off!!! Nice, crowd with lots of smiling faces! What's the bargain I'm missing at Target? #blackfridayon2 pbs.twimg.com/media/A8Wc-sTCMAArWn4.jpg
by Lori Geary via twitter 11/23/2012 2:09:51 AM -
A lot of families at this Wal-Mart (bloomington, MINUTE) are ODing on small appliances ranging from coffee makers to vacuums $WMTby Dhanya.Skariachan via twitter 11/23/2012 2:11:45 AM
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