Black Friday Shoppers: Go from Red to Black

Each year, retailers prepare for the holiday shopping season in order to attract the coveted holiday shoppers. Traditionally, the Black Friday shopping frenzy is the kickoff of the holiday shopping season. Retailers want to put out their best coupons, deals, and limited time offers in order to attract those Black Friday crowds. Times have definitely changed since the coupon circular in the Sunday paper. Savvy consumers are more likely to whip out their mobile devices and shop for deals while wading through the sea of shoppers at the mall or shopping center. Good examples of the use of technology for both consumers and retailers can be found in coupon apps, shopping comparison apps, and Black Friday deal websites.

Black Friday deal sites are growing in popularity. They are convenient for shoppers while providing a great way for retailers to showcase their holiday specials. BFads.net offers consumers an incentive to fill out the lead form on the homepage. They promise exclusive access to “leaked Black Friday news and the latest hot deals delivered right to your inbox”.  Dealighted.com offers consumers an easy way to shop today’s deals according to store. Featured retailers include Walmart, Amazon.com, Apple, and Target. Consumers can also quickly comparison shop with the search bar that is prominently displayed front and center on the homepage. The consumer simply enters the product and name and Viola! the most recent deals on the product are available. Dealnews.com offers consumers the latest deals from Walmart, Nike, Best Buy, and more. They have also created a companion Black Friday App for mobile users.

Online coupon and deal sites, like Dealnews.com, have expanded to include shopping comparison apps. The Black Friday App was named “Best Black Friday Web Site” by both PC World and PC Magazine. Created by Dealnews.com, the Black Friday App allows users to create a shopping list, find year-round deals, access their shopping list on Dealnews.com, and share favorite ads. The Smoopa App is another popular mobile shopping app. According to Mashable, “The good or bad buy recommendation is what sets Smoopa apart from a bevy of price comparison competitors.”

With so many options for the consumer, it’s important for retailers to be prepared this Black Friday. Consumers now have a variety of shopping comparison and deal sites literally at their fingertips. Savvy retailers like Walmart, Amazon.com, and Target are prepared to woo the Black Friday crowd by promoting their best deals online and via mobile apps. With communication and technology so widely used for shopping deals, this is the best time for retailers to take advantage of the busy holiday shopping season.