And the deals roll on.
Walmart has announced its Black Friday plans, and like several of its peers it will launch those special deals the day before - on Thanksgiving.
In a nod to the growing number of shoppers who prefer to shop online, the nation’s biggest retailer will offer its Black Friday discounts starting at 12:01 AM Thanksgiving morning, while those who like the buzz of the crowds will be able to nab “door buster’’ discounts at stores starting at 6 p.m. that evening.
Retailers continue to offer discounts earlier in the holiday season to grab shoppers during a time of year that can make or break their bottom line. And while some retailers like Walmart have been open on Thanksgiving for decades, more are following suit to pursue consumers who want to start browsing and spending in between the turkey and pumpkin pie.
The stretched out deals have dimmed some of Black Friday's glow, but Thanksgiving is growing in popularity as a shopping day. An analysis released this week by consultancy PwC found that 58% of those surveyed said they would shop on the holiday this year, up from 40% who said they intended to do so in 2016.
While there will be some Walmart products that can only be scooped up online, most of the in-store sale items will also be available for purchase at Walmart.com.
Walmart shoppers can begin mapping out their favorite Black Friday deals today by checking the retailer's app or website.
And there will be literal maps for those who venture out to a store when the sales go live. The retailer is color coding popular sections like toys and electronics to make sure shoppers don't get frazzled and give up while searching the aisles for a particular deal. Maps, balloons, and store employees will help steer shoppers to the TV, speaker or game console they've been wanting.
