Millions of Americans who make a beeline to popular department stores across the country were glaringly missing at this years Black Friday. Flagship stores like Macy’s and Saks Fifth Avenue did see a few dozen shoppers but in contrast this was far from the crowded scenes seen in the past.
The annual shopping day that falls after Thanksgiving is suffering from the ravaging pandemic where venturing into retail stores or crowded places is still shunned upon. US has not manage to control the spread and seeing new record in cases everyday, the country has the highest number of Covid-19 cases and sadly deaths as well. Subdued by the global situation, retailers took their sales offering online en masse which paid off, with the country hitting a record US5.1 billion (1USD=RM4.1) sales in a single day, a 21.5 percent year on year growth according to data published by Adobe Analytics. The shopping pattern has clearly shifted with more shoppers opting for online sales, the trend is likely to continue for the rest of the year until first half of next year.
Retail stores spent huge sums in decorating their stores in hopes of reviving their struggling revenue for the season, but those who depended solely on in-store sales would be facing stiffer times as Christmas shopping closes in. President Donald Trump has called on more assistance for retailers but with lockdowns full force in New York and other red zone states, people will not be going out like before.
I
