News Brief: The Evolution of Black Friday
Summary
Black Friday, once defined by frenzied in-store crowds and unmatched one-day deals, has fundamentally transformed. It is now a prolonged, diluted season of promotions with muted in-store traffic, dominated by online shopping and consumer skepticism about the true value of discounts.
Key Points
- Changed Experience: The traditional Black Friday scene of massive crowds and limited-time doorbusters has faded. Store openings are later, and foot traffic has plateaued.
- Rise of Online & Prolonged Promotions: More people now shop online on Black Friday than in stores. Retailers have stretched “Black Friday” into a weeks-long event starting as early as September or mid-November.
- Declining Spending & Traffic: Consumer spending over the Thanksgiving-to-Cyber-Monday period has fallen for two consecutive years. Store visit growth on Black Friday itself has stalled.
- Loss of Urgency and Integrity: Experts note the event’s “integrity is pretty much gone.” Constant, widespread discounting has eroded consumer trust and the urgency that once defined the day.
- Operational & Economic Drivers: Spreading out promotions helps retailers manage inventory and staffing. In a soft economy, heavy discounting is used to drive sales, but some promotions may merely disguise prior price hikes.
新闻简报：黑色星期五的演变
摘要
黑色星期五曾经以疯狂的店内人群和无与伦比的一日优惠为标志，现已发生根本性转变。它演变成一个漫长、稀释的促销季，店内客流平淡，线上购物占主导，消费者对折扣的真实价值持怀疑态度。
关键要点
- 体验改变：传统黑色星期五的大规模人群和限时抢购场景已经消退。商店开门时间更晚，客流量趋于平稳。
- 线上购物兴起与促销期延长：如今在黑色星期五线上购物的人数已超过店内购物。零售商已将”黑色星期五”延长为持续数周的活动，最早从九月或十一月中旬就开始。
- 支出与客流下降：感恩节至网络星期一期间的消费者支出已连续两年下降。黑色星期五当天的商店客流增长陷入停滞。
- 紧迫感与诚信丧失：专家指出该活动的”诚信已基本消失”。持续且广泛的折扣侵蚀了消费者信任和曾经定义这一天的紧迫感。
- 运营与经济驱动因素：分散促销有助于零售商管理库存和人员配备。在疲软的经济中，大幅折扣被用来推动销售，但部分促销可能只是掩盖了先前的涨价。
Original Article Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/11/28/black-friday-shopping-retail-letdown.html