Online Retailers Get Ready for Technology in November Black Friday - November 2011

Online Retailers Get Ready for Technology in November Black Friday – November 2011

Online retailers use technology to get their message across for Black Friday, November 2011. Retailing on the internet with websites that just scream with bargains for the discerning shopper.  Shoppers are able to access the internet and choose from almost anything money can buy.  Many online retailers prepare several months ahead for Black Friday, traditionally the sales to be held just after Thanksgiving.

One of the advantages of online retailing is there are no ‘doors’ to be opened, and no lines waiting for those doors to open.

ComScore’s report has said that approximately $9.7 billion has been spend by consumers at online retail stores from the beginning of November, and it is predicted that the ‘holiday shopping’ will see a further $37.6 billion spent online over this holiday season.

Holiday shopping is defined as:

• Bricks and mortar stores count ‘Black Friday’ which is usually the day after thanksgiving, as the ‘official’ beginning of the holiday shopping season.
• Online shopping has added to the holiday season shopping mecca, with technology now being used on websites using computers, laptops and now mobile phones as well.   This make it easier for many people to do their seasonal shopping rather than joining the rush at a bricks and mortar store.
• Online shopping has increased over the years with many people spending more on technology products online.
• The seasonal online shopping tends to peak from the end of November up to Christmas when many retailers offer specials over this time to ensure that their stock moves.

Online Retailers Get Ready for Technology in November Black Friday - November 2011

Thanksgiving and black Friday shopping technology

E-shopping is now being done on iPhones, and iPads over thanksgiving and Black Friday, there has been a marked increase of people using these devices to do their online shopping.  Many find it convenient as using the devices are easy, flexible and cheaper than driving to the mall for their shopping.  Retailers are offering a wide range of products, including digital media, electrical appliances, and gaming consoles plus much more, younger generation of shoppers seem to find these two products the iPhone and iPad particularly useful.

Many people using the IPhone and iPad are embracing their devices as an excellent research tool, to find out in-store and online bargains.  Price comparisons are much easier using modern technology, rather than having to use foot power to do comparisons from one store to another.

Creating a balance between shopping at the mall and online

Many bricks and mortar retailer are recognizing that they need to use this digital media to increase their sales. While many stores recognize they still require the walk-in traffic of people into their stores, they are also recognizing that customers are splitting their purchases between retail and online, thus many of the larger stores are branching out into the internet to keep customers buying from them when they search online.

Online Retailers Get Ready for Technology in November Black Friday - November 2011

Many of the Electronics online retailers are doing exceptional sales this year and other well-known stores such as Best Buy, Wal-Mart, Target and Amazon, are offering a larger range of products which is bound to encourage more online shoppers, to choose online buying over taking a trip to the store.  Banking options make it also easier for online stores to do better business, with safe and secure technology people feel more confident to be able to use their banking options to do their purchases.

2011 Black Friday Sales, Online Retailers Cannot Wait!

2011 Black Friday Sales, Online Retailers Cannot Wait!

The day after thanksgiving is traditionally known as Black Friday, this often kicks off the holiday season shopping.  Annually shopkeepers and retailers will open their doors early offering customers and shoppers incredible deals of up to 70% of merchandise such as electronic goods to clothing.  It’s it typical that shoppers will turn up at the retail stores in droves hunting for that bargain.

People love bargains, it’s one of the highlights of the year for many shoppers who often save up for their Black Friday shopping.

How did Black Friday get its name?

There are many accounts how this experience got its name, one of the theories is that it began in Philadelphia during 1960 where it described the heavy traffic both vehicle and pedestrian the day after Thanksgiving.  A more common theory is that retailers usually do excellent sales and ‘turn a profit’ for the year or what is known as they ‘operate in the black’.  Whatever the origin, this day is usually profitable for most retailers as their sales are usually high.

2011 Black Friday Sales, Online Retailers Cannot Wait!

Surveys show that Black Friday is considered the biggest shopping day annually

Consumer tracking ShopperTrak, who monitors sales and traffic at over twenty five thousand stores nationwide, says that Black Friday sales have been on the top annually since it began monitoring holiday sales data since 2002, had found that Black Friday sales exceeded sale against all other holiday periods, except the year 2004 when the Saturday before Christmas proved to be busier.

 2012 Black Friday

This year Black Friday shopping is expected to be just as busy, stores have prepared for this shopping  and are ready to open their doors early in order to accommodate the many shoppers that are expected.  Toys R Us will open at 9pm and many other stores will open at midnight on the day, some of these stores are Wal-Mart, Target, Kohl’s Macy’s, Best Buy.  Some stores already operate round the clock are prepared for the rush.

Are Black Friday deals better than other times?

Many of the big department stores have good deals over all the holiday seasons; some bargains are ever better after the Christmas season.  But many people use Black Friday to get bargains for their Christmas shopping or for those special items that are often not available at special prices throughout the year.

Many stores only offer some of the items at special prices on Black Friday so people flock to the stores to obtain these special deals on that day.

2011 Black Friday Sales, Online Retailers Cannot Wait!

Online Black Friday shopping

Many online stores are also offering special deals on Black Friday, so look out online you might get that bargains without having to go to a retails store and face the huge rush of shoppers looking for that bargains of the year. This year will test how effective online Black Friday shopping will prove to be for many online retailers.

Many of the traditional stores have also begun online Black Friday sales which means that shoppers can begin their search for special offers earlier than going to bricks and mortar shops it also eliminates that long wait for the doors to open,  the risk of being trampled by hundreds of shoppers rushing into the stores.

Will online retailers kill local merchants

online retailers cannot wait 2011 black Friday

Before the advent of computerized technology and use of internet, the retail business was flourishing everywhere in the world. It had its magnificent and attractive showrooms with products on display, with people thronging in and out of the shop or the mall. It was a pleasant sight of the good old days when people used to go near those shops and malls to spend some time, if not buying.

Then the internet invaded the marketing arena. The use of internet gave rise to online shops and online trading businesses. Gradually, people were attracted towards that system of marketing required products and items. The internet facilitated the utilization of time. It allowed those segments of people who can’t afford much time to go out

2010 had significant increase in sales over 2009 and 2008

shopping on working days. They had the privilege, unknown otherwise, to sit at home and shop their requirement, at their convenient time. Eventually, many well-to-do people, educated, having comfortable source of income with jobs, were inclined towards the online shopping. According to a survey report of 2001 it was observed that 53% of women in USA were online users.

Online business Vs High Overhead Costs

Today, if you travel across any city within US, you will observe that there are many shopping outlets, which are either for sale or for rent/lease. One wonders if the owner has escalated the rent, but it is not true. The retail business is on the decline whereas the online business is growing. The online shopping is the consequence of people becoming more and more computer savvy. This exposure to modern technological development has made people to utilize more time in other constructive work than to spend time in shopping. However, if we evaluate the pros and cons of online shops with the retail outlets we will find that both have its merits and demerits.

In online shopping you can sit at home and browse for any commodity you can think of. You will have the demonstrated design, color, texture, price, synopsis, reviews, availability and shipping procedures. In retail outlets, they are confined to their respective items. For example if it is a grocery shop then it has only such items concerning to grocery, a hardware store have only hardware items and so no and so forth. The internet has millions of website and has all the items and things you can think of. You sit at home and reach the appropriate website to get the information

2010 had significant increase in sales over 2009 and 2008

and see their prices, compare with other brands and put it on your shopping cart, pay the bill through internet on your credit card and get the delivery at home within a stipulated time. It is so fascinating and so convenient. More conveniently, there are online shops that allow you to register with them and you can send your requirement through mail instead of spending time in browsing the internet and get the delivery at home. The logistics has become very simple and easy.

One business, many websites option

On the other hand, a retailer requires a space for shop, maintain inventory, employ manpower and accommodate all other overhead expenses. On the contrary the online shops have nothing to bother. They don’t need space, nor inventory, nor manpower and neither overhead expense. They interact online with the computer take the orders and procure the item over internet from the manufacturer and ship it to the client. They basically act as a liaison between the client and the manufacturer. The other drawback for the retailers is that they buy from intermediary sources and thus cannot lessen the price. The costing for them includes the cost of the item along with the cost of the employee, lease cost, electricity and other related expenses. Online shops enjoy the privilege of direct procurement with no overhead expense and thus their price in all the items are less compared to the retailers.

Incidentally, retail shops have a preference over the online shops when it comes to physical verification of the item or product. In online you can only see the pictures and price and additionally, the specifications related to the product. The retail shops have their expert supervisors to explain the function, durability, handling procedure and assurance to send service persons to your home to meet any complaints, at any time. The online shops can only provide you with a warranty or guarantee. However, many products available online provides time period for satisfying the customers requirement and otherwise to return the product and get the total refund.

Do online businesses have advantage over conventional stores?

Although online shops have leverage over the brick and mortar stores, it cannot provide the satisfaction to customers, as they have, when personally handling the product, reading the relevant brochures and convincing them with the specifications and original warranty document. These facilities are not available in online marketing. A buyer has to satisfy himself with the graphic reproduction or video demonstration of the items. The communication with the clients is done instantly in a retail outlet which is not possible in online shops. Therefore, online shops have many queries from the customers than the retail shops. This is where retailers consume more time in clarifying the inquisitiveness of the customers.

Another obstacle faced by online stores, is the fast development of technology. The technology you adopt today, tomorrow it may become obsolete and to cope with the cut- throat competition you have to induct the modern technological development. In retail shops there is no need for periodical technological developments and at the most they will have to enhance the productivity of their customer care service through call centers for better service. It is a fact that many industrial houses are switching to market their products online for cost efficiency. This provides them with a base to reach the customers around the globe through World Wide Web.

On the opposite, many consumers are still stuck to the retail shop for their requirements. Therefore it can effectually be inferred that unless some unforeseen changes comes through, in the technological world both the systems will prevail irrespective of if some is losing and some gaining. This is because of the prevalent psychological bent of mind of the customers. They tend to lean to such shops from where they get the best and the most convenient way to make their purchases. Thus it is only a matter of convenience and cost effectiveness.

I live in southern California, in los angeles, in a recent weekend I drove around town quite a nit, and if there was something I noticed, was the abundance to retail space available for lease, thought-out entire Wilshire louvered, Melrose, santa monica, west Hollywood “regular” los anagles” and where not really ? I saw practically hundreds of retails store front empty with the sign “for lease” on the window …..

Are landlords still trying to keep the rental prices high or is online giants retails killing small business ?

In recent weeks of 2010 as the holiday season was booming, we could really see the retail portion of the economy picking up, and with many reports about significant increase in sales over 2009 and 2008,

So what could be the reason ?

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