Scenes from a mall: Coverage of Black Friday madness
It's the day after U.S. Thanksgiving and the busiest shopping day in the American retail calendar. Starting on Thursday night and into Friday morning, Globe and Mail reporters provided on-the-ground insight into the shopping madness. While live coverage has concluded, you can catch up by reading the transcript below, which includes stories, photos and video. For more updates throughout the day, be sure to visit the Globeandmail.com.
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Hi there. I'm an online editor with the Globe and Mail, and I'll be moderating today's coverage of Black Friday (also known as the year's biggest shopping day in the U.S.).
If you're just tuning in, earlier this morning I was joined by reporters Steve Ladurantaye in Buffalo, N.Y. and Paul Waldie in Raleigh, N.C. and now we've got Wendy Stueck pitching in from Bellingham, Wash.
Black Friday bargain-hunters have been caught up in a string of violent incidents across the U.S. last night and this morning: 2 shot in armed robberies, 15 others pepper-sprayed
We'll be sharing the highlights with you all morning. Please feel free to share your thoughts, stories and questions with us by leaving a comment.
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Here's an update from Globe reporter Wendy Stueck, who's making her way to Bellingham, Washington.
"It's just after 5 am here and I am headed to the Peace Arch border crossing and hoping for no, or at least minimal, lineups. A shopping-averse type who is among the least likely candidates in the bureau for this assignment, I have been coached by them on where to go (Bellis Fair) and inundated with shopping requests, including iPads and certain items from Victoria's Secret. My teenaged daughter has told me to ignore those requests and keep an eye out for boots, sweaters, scarves and a type of lip balm that she covets and is available state-side.
In my despair over this - where did this instinct come from? - I am at least comforted by her edict that I have to buy two if I see them - one for her and one for a friend - or none at all. My map directions suggest one hour and 11 minutes to Bellis Fair. I fear that's optimistic." -
Discounts here appear to be the same as last year, I'm told. Some stores offering 60 per cent off something The norm seems 20.by Paul Waldie via twitter 11/25/2011 1:16:45 PM -
On to Best Buyby Paul Waldie via twitter 11/25/2011 1:17:07 PM
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They're shopping for a claim to fame: Joe Hallock and Aaron Green (L) wait outside Scheels All Sports in thermal sleeping bags hours before the store opens at 7a.m. on November 25, 2011 in Fargo, North Dakota. The pair said they aren't shopping for anything in specific, and just want to say they were the first ones in the store. (Photo by Chris Franz/Getty Images)
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Five Canadians from Halifax and Calgary just walked into Crabtree. "Yes we're late" said Koreen Lahey. It's 8:15 am.by Paul Waldie via twitter 11/25/2011 1:26:59 PM
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The Canadians are visiting relatives but say Black Friday is a big part of their trip. It's second year they've come here.by Paul Waldie via twitter 11/25/2011 1:28:10 PM
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Chad Martin from Calgary figures he'll spend $500. About the same as last year.by Paul Waldie via twitter 11/25/2011 1:29:15 PM
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The HuffPo offers this advice to any Black Friday shopper: 5 Tips for Reducing Shopping Stress and 8 Tips To Curb Overspending -
Now there's madness. Local NBC station is here at Best Buy doing interviews.by Paul Waldie via twitter 11/25/2011 1:34:29 PM
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If there was shopper craziness here at this Best Buy next to Crabtree, it's gone. Looks like a typical Saturday now.by Paul Waldie via twitter 11/25/2011 1:36:55 PM
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Looks like some of the Occupy protests have started popping up outside shopping centers. This is from a Reuters report:
At Macy's in Herald Square, several Occupy Wall Street activists chanted "boycott Macy's" and "stop supporting big corporations" even as 9,000 people lined up to shop at the store. -
Black Friday seems to be sweeping the world! Thousands in Indonesia line up to buy new BlackBerry tgam.ca
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From "Pleeeeeeeease?" to "Dear God, no more shoes," the Huffington Post has a gallery of the funniest faces from the Black Friday frenzy
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Guy outside Best Buy handing out flyers is more eager to talk about Carolina Hurricanes and their so-so season than shopping.by Paul Waldie via twitter 11/25/2011 1:50:21 PM
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Outside a Belk store in Crabtree Mall two shoppers are sound asleep on big comfy chairsby Paul Waldie via twitter 11/25/2011 1:53:52 PM
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Couple of Raleigh city cops lounging next to a railing. "It's like a normal Friday," says one. "Just another day in paradise"by Paul Waldie via twitter 11/25/2011 1:58:52 PM
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So was Black Friday a bit of a bust for the U.S. retailers? This article from CBS seems to suggest so. Retailers may need a Christmas miracle to balance books this year
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If you've decided to skip on Black Friday and focus on Cyber Monday, here are some tips from the Globe's personal finance writers:
Tips to make the most of Cyber Monday
It's always Black Friday on the Internet -
Found bellis fair - just followed stream of cars headed for #blackfriday bargains - zipped through Peace archby Wendy Stueck via twitter 11/25/2011 2:37:13 PM -
Sun just coming up, but parking lot getting packed at Bellis fair for #blackfriday . No one here got the 'buy nothing day' memoby Wendy Stueck via twitter 11/25/2011 2:39:07 PM
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How will retailers fare this Black Friday? Here's what Robert Kavcic of BMO Nesbitt Burns had to say today:
"The race is on to snap up the hot deal, with even some Canadian retailers now getting in on the action. This year’s results will be interesting given that consumer confidence has plummeted on both sides of the border since the spring.
"In the U.S., confidence is at the lowest level since March 2009, according to the Conference Board, which just so happened to be the end of the nasty bear market that cut stock prices by more than half. Against that backdrop, look for more modest spending growth this holiday season." -
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I love shopping, obviously. But I've always been totally okay with missing #blackfriday. Chaos!by ohheyBG via twitter 11/25/2011 2:57:23 PM -
For those at work today but still itching to shop...
Canadian employers appear willing to cut you some slack today, but it's probably best not to overdo it, at work anyway. A survey of Canadian chief information officers published this week by Robert Half Technology shows many companies - a majority, actually - have blocked access to online shopping sites. That's up markedly from last year, by the way. About one-third of the CIOs surveyed say they do allow it, but they monitor it and expect their employees not to overdo it. -
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Ok this part of bellis fair is positively serene on #blackfriday - but it is only 7 am...by Wendy Stueck via twitter 11/25/2011 3:05:03 PM
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Apparently Target is offering $3 toasters and coffeemakers
but before you buy into this crazy deal, ask yourself this: will a $3 toaster blow up your house? .... -
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Black Friday wouldn't be complete without a video montage of stampedes because, as Buzzfeed puts it, "what other day of the year can you witness grown men and women trampling each other for a slightly cheaper television?"
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LA official says woman involved in Wal-Mart pepper spraying incident was, "competitive shopping." She was trying "to gain preferred access to a variety of locations in the store...". latimesblogs.latimes.com -
Here's an update from Globe reporter Wendy Stueck, who interviewed some shoppers in Bellinghaam, Washington:
Shannon Carter, of Langley, B.C., and her mother Bernice Kirk, of Delta, got up shortly after 2 am to head south and by 7:30 am were relaxing - with a full shopping cart beside them - in the food court at Bellis Fair.
Ms Carter said she'd purchased mostly clothes, including a $200 winter jacket discounted to $47.
First-time Black Friday shoppers, they said they came for a bit of fun and in search of bargains.
"I did find lots of bargains," Ms Carter said, adding that she felt the big American mall offered greater selection than what she could find at home. -
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Bellis Fair on #blackfriday pretty mellow. Not even close to Boxing day in Winnipeg.by Wendy Stueck via twitter 11/25/2011 3:52:38 PM
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Hi everyone - thank you again for joining us this morning for coverage of Black Friday. We appreciate all of your comments and questions. We'll be winding down our live blog shortly, but be sure to come back for more updates throughout the day, including stories, photos and video, visit www.theglobeandmail.com and be sure to check out one of the most popular stories of the day: Why Canadians can’t resist the Black Friday party
