The Countdown to Black Friday Is On
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are a little more than a week away and, according to the National Retail Federation, more than 164 million shoppers can’t wait.
The NRF’s latest consumer survey says that of those considering shopping over the long holiday weekend, 20 percent (32 million) plan to shop on Thanksgiving Day. But Black Friday still remains the busiest day with 70 percent planning to shop then (115 million).
A substantial 43 percent plan to shop on Saturday (71 million), with 76 percent saying they will do so specifically to support Small Business Saturday. On Sunday, 21 percent expect to shop (35 million) and 48 percent are expected to shop on Cyber Monday (78 million).
And they are looking for deals — two-thirds of those polled said they are headed out to take advantage of deals and promotions that retailers are offering, while 26 percent cited the tradition of shopping over Thanksgiving weekend and 23 percent said it’s something to do over the holiday weekend. Another 23 percent said next weekend is when they traditionally kick off their holiday shopping.
The holiday weekend is really popular with younger shoppers. “For Gen Z, the holiday shopping weekend is a can’t-miss opportunity,” said Pam Goodfellow, principal analyst for the firm that did the NRF survey. “This group overwhelmingly sees in-store shopping as a valuable way to connect with others, be it friends, family or store associates at their favorite retailers.”
On the flip side, of those not planning to participate in the shopping festivities, 52 percent won’t shop because they do not enjoy the experience and 51 percent say they never shop during Thanksgiving weekend.
December 25 is only 29 days away … are you ready?
Earlier this week, Lowe’s announced plans to hire approximately 400 people to fill full-time jobs in its corporate offices in Mooresville and Wilkesboro, North Carolina. In Wilkesboro, the home improvement retailer is adding 200 full-time positions in its central production office. An additional 200 jobs are being added to the company’s “central quoting team” in Mooresville that is responsible for preparing floor installation quotes for Lowe’s stores.
Whole Foods Says Floral Flavors is the Top Food Trend for ‘18
According to the global buyers and experts at Whole Foods Market, floral flavors, functional mushrooms and root-to-stem recipes are the top food trends to be on the lookout for in 2018. Whole Foods says, “floral inspiration is finally in full bloom” when it comes to food. From adding whole flowers and petals into dishes to infusing botanical flavors into drinks and snacks, this top trend makes for unique flavors and fresh aromas. Plant-based diets and dishes continue to dominate the food world too as consumers are using science to advance recipes and manipulate plant-based ingredients and proteins.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized the Home Depot with a 2017 SmartWay Excellence Award. This is the fifth consecutive year the company has received the award. SmartWay recognizes industry leaders in freight, supply chain, environmental performance and energy efficiency. In 2016, the Home Depot shipped 6,700 fewer trucks, helping to avoid 6.2 metric tons of CO2 emissions. The company audits carriers annually to ensure that data is properly submitted to the EPA.
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