Best Buy’s Black Friday sales were nearly identical online and in-store, but that didn’t stop bargain-hungry shoppers from lining up for the 5 p.m. opening on Thanksgiving. At our Litchfield store near our headquarters, a few people started lining up at 2:00 p.m. as they waited patiently for a mild Minnesota day. The parking lot was full when the store opened, and CEO Corie Barry was greeted at the door and quickly carted her 70-inch UHD TV, which retails for $549.99.
This Black Friday marks Barry’s first day as CEO, but she told Richfield store employees that she’s worked almost every holiday weekend in her career. “I left my two children, ages 13 and 9, and had a quick brunch this morning before heading to work. I want to be part of it, work with it, hopefully have a little fun with it, and you must know that I am incredibly, deeply grateful,” Barry told staff shortly before opening. “After 20 years of no or limited Thanksgiving, I get it. It’s not easy. At the same time, it’s making technology dreams come true. What You Should Be Buying Tonight.” There are people queuing outside who would never buy ,because it’s here with exceptional service and exceptional prices.You are part child, part mother, part grandma. It will make Christmas even better.”
Best Buy CEO Corie Barry greets Black Friday shoppers on Thursday night. Photo courtesy of Best Buy.
Barry said he planned four store visits for Thanksgiving and would either be out all day or monitor numbers at headquarters on Friday. The National Retail Federation estimates that 165.3 million Americans will be shopping this weekend, making Black Her Friday the busiest day. An NRF study found that 39.6 million consumers were considering shopping on Thanksgiving, 114.6 million on Black Friday and 66.6 million on Small Business Saturday. After she dropped to 33.3 million on Sunday, shoppers are expected to return to work with her credit cards on Monday, ready to snag CyberHer Monday’s sale. An estimated 68.7 million people are expected to take advantage of his deals online on Monday.
If the early crowds are any indication, shopping is off to a good start. The target parking lot is full when the store opens at 17:00 on Thursday. At the Mall of America, he had more than 3,000 people in line by the time it opened at 5 a.m. Friday. It was just north of the entrance, and the goods were handed out to the earliest people in line (the first goods arrived at noon on Thursday). A spokesperson for the mall said the crowd was bigger and grew faster than last year, with thousands more coming in through other doors.
Eager to keep up the momentum, Target announced early deals for Cyber Monday on Friday. For the first time, Target kicks off its Cyber Monday sale on Sunday with $80 off the 7th generation iPad, 40% off beds and baths, and $219.99 on a 43-inch TCL TV. Target rolls out new deals every day through his December 9th, dubbed “Green Monday.”
Executive vice president and chief marketing and digital officer Rick Gomez said in a statement:
