Retail experts expect more Americans to shop on Black Friday and through the weekend this year than they did a year ago.
Almost 2 million more people are expected to shop from Thanksgiving Day through Cyber Monday this year, although consumers have continued the trend of starting their Christmas shopping earlier in the year, according to the National Retail Federation.
On Black Friday, 64% of NRF projects are likely to shop in stores; compared to 51% in the previous year.
The expected increase is being welcomed by small businesses in northern Texas.
Allison Scott of Apricot Lane Boutique said business is doing better this year, although there are still challenges.
“It’s no better than it was before COVID, but it’s better than last year and we’re seeing it looking up, but it’s still difficult,” said Scott. “It’s still difficult to get enough products at the same prices as we were, so we just have more hurdles than in the past.”
Still, Scott said there was hope for the rest of the holiday season.
“We really rely on these days when all buyers are looking for these offers. So, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, the pre-Christmas season… these are really big days for us, ”said Scott. “It’s the last part of the year. It’s most of our year. This is where we do our numbers and most of our sales are in this area. “
At Mosaic Makers Collective, Katy Sensenig Schilthuis said they also have high hopes for their two businesses. One is in the Bishop Arts District and the other is in the Galleria Dallas.
“When the shops reopened, it was a slow creep as people began to venture out again. But this holiday season was amazing. We already see people shopping, shopping early, ”said Sensenig Schilthuis. “When you shop small and local, you make a difference in someone’s life. This person who is a wife or a mother and not just an artist. It really allows them to do things like put turkeys on their tables for Thanksgiving Day. “
While Thanksgiving weekend will be busy, 61% of those polled by the National Retail Federation have already started their Christmas shopping. That number is a slight increase from 59% last year but up from 51% a decade ago in 2011.
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Millions More Expected to Shop This Year Over Thanksgiving Weekend
