Black Friday Predictions 2024
Black Friday 2021 will look different than previous years
In the past, Black Friday has been called the biggest shopping day of the year. And while the title hasn't changed, the day itself has expanded to encompass multiple days, sometimes even weeks. Over the past few years, retailers have often started their Black Friday sales on Thanksgiving Day, Wednesday (Thanksgiving Eve) and sometimes the Monday before Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving Day backlash
As stores started to move their Black Friday sales to a Thanksgiving Day kickoff, they faced backlash. To avoid the backlash, more and more stores have begun to opt for an online-only sale for Thanksgiving Day, keeping their physical stores closed. As a result, Thanksgiving Day is emerging as one of the main days for online shopping. The Wednesday of Thanksgiving week, or more specifically Thanksgiving Eve, has also emerged as a popular date for stores to start their Black Friday sales. The earlier they get shoppers' attention, the easier it would be for them to get consumers to spend their holiday shopping dollars in their stores.
Black Friday 2021 will be different
The coronavirus pandemic created an entirely new Black Friday shopping experience for retailers and shoppers in 2020. And this year will look different from the last as well. Like in 2020, most stores will remain closed on Thanksgiving Day. However, many will open early for shoppers on Black Friday as they did in past years. There will likely be more in-store shoppers this year, in comparison to last year, as many major retailers are following mask and social distancing safety recommendations, and consumers are accustomed to the post-pandemic in-person shopping experience. Black Friday and pre-Black Friday sales will kick off early, as holiday shoppers are eager to get deals before they run out – since there are concerns surrounding stock shortages and supply chain delays.
The Most Popular Stores for Black Friday 2021 - Walmart, Amazon, BestBuy, Target & More!
While Amazon continues to rule the online world, Walmart remains the undisputed king of Black Friday. BestBuy, Target, Kohl's and Macy's are next in line in terms of popularity. People are expected to look for deals on Apple's iPhones, Macs, iPads & other devices. But don't expect Apple Store to offer significant discounts. We expect carriers like Verizon, AT&T, Sprint & T-Mobile – and stores like BestBuy to offer up to $300 gift cards with iPhones. Expect Walmart, Target, BestBuy, and Amazon to offer the cheapest laptops, TVs and video games. As the smart device war heats, Amazon is expected to offer great deals on Alexa Echo dot, Ring, Fire tablets, Kindle etc. We expect Google to respond with deals on Nest, Nest Camera and Nest Doorbell.