How to think of Black Friday in the suburbs now
Black Friday is a season now, not a day. And it's as much an online event as it is in stores.
Yet Black Friday remains the official kickoff to the holiday shopping season and a day suburban stores will be mobbed with people.
Whether you love or hate it, Black Friday serves as a reminder that you have less than a month to get your Christmas shopping done (or nine days to get your Hannukah shopping done).
For many suburban residents, Black Friday has evolved into more of a shopping tradition rather than a day to snatch up the best deals.
Online shopping and “Christmas creep” (remember Amazon.com's big Christmas in July sale?) have led to the one-day Black Friday extravaganza losing some of its distinction in recent years.
Items like TVs, computers and electronics still tend to be heavily discounted on Black Friday — 40-inch TVs will be selling as low as $100, or 60- to 65-inch TVs for between $500 and $700, according to Consumer Reports. But retail experts say clothing and other retailers now might offer their best prices on Cyber Monday, or at other points during the holiday season.
“It's getting less and less important to go on that special day,” said Eujin Lee, 18, of Vernon Hills, who goes Black Friday shopping with her friends every year.
“The deals aren't anything special,” added her friend, Emma Kluever, 18, of Long Grove. “It's just fun to go.”
Their feelings are backed up by a survey from Ibotta, a retail cashback app, that said 65 percent of shoppers believe Black Friday is not as big a deal as it used to be. Also, 49 percent expect the best deals to be found after Black Friday.
Deal or no deal, thousands of shoppers will head out as early as tonight in search of bargains. This year, though, fewer stores will be open on Thanksgiving Day, perhaps in response to complaints that consumerism has invaded the holiday that's meant to be spent with family.
Dozens of chains, including Costco, TJ Maxx, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Crate & Barrel will stay closed on Thanksgiving this year. REI will take it one step further, closing on Black Friday as well, as part of its #OptOutside campaign, aimed at getting people to be active outdoors.
But 135.8 million Americans plan to shop this weekend and will spend an estimated $630 billion in November and December, according to the National Retail Federation. That's some serious shopping.
Some other interesting stats about this year's holiday shopping season, from the federation:
• Consumers are expected to spend an average of $805, just slightly above what they did last year.
• The most requested gift this holiday season? Gift cards. It's topped the list for the last nine years.
• Almost half of all holiday shopping will be done online.
• 21.4 percent of cellphone owners will make purchases on their phones.
• People will spend an average of $77.85 on friends; $25.95 on co-workers; $28.05 on pets and baby sitters; $53.02 on decorations; $28.67 on greeting cards and postage; and $107.80 on food.
There might be a shift in the types of gifts consumers buy this year. Consumers still grapple with issues like shopping versus family time, more stuff versus simple pleasures, and consumerism versus being thankful for what you have.
A Spanish IKEA commercial that made its way around social media recently emphasizes that children really don't want more “stuff,” but rather prefer time with their parents.
Smilena Miteva, 30, a mother of two from Mount Prospect, believes busy lifestyles have steered people away from investing time in gifts. So she's making a point to have her children use stickers and crayons to make customized cards for loved ones, sometimes with their handprints.
“We will try to give gifts with meaning this year,” she said.