Thanksgiving – Dr. Scott's Business Blog

Black Friday gobbles up Thanksgiving

November 21, 2012 by Scott Testa 5 Comments

The First Thanksgiving, painting by Jean Louis Gerome Ferris (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It might be more than just a matter of consumer gluttony.

“There are reasons why we are the last superpower left,” said Scott Testa, a marketing consultant and former marketing professor from the Philadelphia area. “It’s because we are a democracy and because of our economic strength. It’s part of our DNA as Americans. Your typical American loves to shop.”

Power of conformity

“Retail Creep” is not a new phenomenon.

Blue laws prevented stores from opening Sundays for religious reasons. Most of the laws have been repealed, yet the sale of alcohol is still prohibited on Sundays in many places.

A fundamental cultural shift may facilitate the creeping consumerism.

“There are no barriers,” Testa said. “I am absolutely convinced you will see retailers in the future that simply require less people, less cashiers. Technology will do a couple of things; e-commerce will continue to grow, and physical retailers through technology will be able to operate with less people today. I would not be shocked if you see the Wal-Marts and Targets of the world open all day Thanksgiving and Christmas.”

http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121121/NEWS/211210310/-1/NEWS01

Black Friday is creeping into Thanksgiving evening (miamiherald.com)
Black Friday store hours gobble into Thanksgiving (ns.umich.edu)

Filed Under: retail Tagged With: Christmas, Holiday, Philadelphia, retail, Sundays, Thanksgiving, United States, Walmart

Quoted – Many stores to conduct business on Thanksgiving Day – Walletpop.com

November 27, 2009 by Scott Testa 3 Comments

: Image by djlicious via Flickr

Many retail employees are forgoing Turkey Day with their families to offer a jump start on the Black Friday shopping mania.

According to the USA Today, Wal-Mart, Old Navy, and Radio Shack on the West Coast will entertain shoppers who decide to splurge after a hearty meal.

So will Toys R Us, says an earlier Walletpop post and Boscov’s and certain Banana Republic/ Gap stores. These retailers will join Kmart, Walgreen’s and other drug and grocery stores who began the tradition years ago.

“It’s a big trend for retailers,” said Scott Testa, professor of business administration at Cabrini College in Philadelphia in a phone interview. “I think a certain percentage of the population will go and shop especially if they can beat the Black Friday crowd.”

http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/25/many-stores-to-conduct-business-on-thanksgiving-day/

Quoted – This year, holiday trimmings are in spending – Denver Post (scotttesta.com)
Quoted – Many stores to conduct business on Thanksgiving Day – Walletpop.com (scotttesta.com)

Filed Under: retail Tagged With: Add new tag, BlackFriday, Cabrini College, Gap, Kmart, RadioShack, retail, Thanksgiving, Toys R Us, USA Today, Wal-Mart

Quoted – How to Get the Biggest Savings this Holiday Season – Denver Post

November 25, 2009 by Scott Testa 12 Comments

: Image via Wikipedia

Stores are stocking less inventory this holiday season, so Traci Lunsford decided to start her shopping last month.

“I will receive the bill in November and have it paid off by December,” says the Thornton resident, who has been using coupons and daily deals from Upromise.com to help curtail her holiday spending.

Marketing experts say zealous coupon clippers and tenacious bargain hunters such as Lunsford will reap the greatest savings this holiday season.

But they also warn that shoppers are unlikely to find the usual last-minute price cuts in the days before Christmas.

Why? To compensate for soft sales throughout the past year, retailers are keeping inventories low to prevent stock from languishing on shelves. Black Friday and Cyber Monday — the weekdays immediately after Thanksgiving — promise shoppers the deepest discounts.

“The more expensive the item . . . the more open the store will be to negotiating,”says Scott Testa, a business-administration professor at Cabrini College in Philadelphia.

“Consumers have nothing to lose,” he adds. “If you have money to spend, you will get as good a deal as you will ever see.”

Wal-Mart and Best Buy both advertise price-matching. To take advantage of it, shoppers should arm themselves with mailers and inserts before hitting the stores.

“Bring your laptop into the store,” Testa says. “Show them the ad you found on Amazon with a $999 price compared to their $1,050 and ask them if there is something they can do for you.”

http://www.denverpost.com/lifestyles/ci_13835889

http://www.dailycomet.com/article/20091125/ARTICLES/911209864/1008?Title=How-to-get-the-biggest-savings-this-holiday-shopping-season

http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091127/LIFE/911270302

Quoted – This year, holiday trimmings are in spending – Denver Post (scotttesta.com)

Filed Under: retail Tagged With: Add new tag, Best Buy, BestBuy, Black Friday, BlackFriday, Business, Cabrini College, Christmas, Christmas and holiday season, Cyber Monday, Federal Trade Commission, Home Depot, Philadelphia, retail, Retailing, Thanksgiving, Wal-Mart

Give a Shout Out to Ikea

November 26, 2008 by Scott Testa Leave a Comment

Tomorrow is the traditional Philadelphia Thanksgiving parade which was threatened to be cancelled because the previous years sponsor Boscovs, a regional department store chain is in bankrupcy. Ikea at the last minute stepped up and sponsored the parade. Really smart move on Ikea’s part from a business and PR perspective. Sorry Boscov’s you look like the Grinch.

First of all thank you Ikea for contributing in a holiday season that looks dismal from a retail perspective.

Ikea has some roots in the Philadelphia region. Their first North American store abutted the Plymouth Meeting Mall in Plymouth Township right outside the Philadelphia city limits.

Their new store in Conshockon right off of 476 is much bigger. If anyone knows the history of Ikea it was started in Sweden by Ingvar Kamprad who started his retail career riding around Sweden selling fish off his bike.

Needless to say old Ingvar is now one of the richest people in the world. Ikea is the largest retailer and manufacturer of furniture in the world. (Hey Ingvar can I have an end table, one of those lamps and a 1/2 pound of that those loxs.)

Ikea sells a lot of furniture but its reputation for sturdiness has been suspect for years. (Next time you move check out the contract the movers give you. There probably is a clause saying something to the effect that they are not responsible for Ikea furniture breaking during the move.)

On the other hand the prices are good, the selection is decent, the employees are nice and the swedish meatballs in the restaurant are to die for.

Update article from other news source about Ikea

http://www.upi.com/Business_News/2008/11/13/Ikea_rescues_Philadelphia_parade/UPI-40811226624495/