Is this our last Black Friday?
Black Friday shopping seems like a relatively new idea although some people say it goes all the way back to the late 1800's. I think it's safe to say the tradition of standing in line to get the best deals on electronics and toys etc has really taken off over the last 20 years, but are we seeing the end to this trend?
CNN Money says a survey by the National Retail Federation found that 59% of shoppers plan to shop online this year, marking the first time that online is the most popular choice for shoppers. For the first time ever, more people say they plan to shop online than in big box stores such as Walmart and Target.
Retailers have seen this trend coming and are preparing for the future, like Walmart's new services to order online then pick up at their stores, while others have struggled to adapt. This year Toys R Us, Gymboree, Payless Shoes and Radio Shack have all filed for bankruptcy.
Will we still shop on Black Friday in the future? Sure we will, but it looks like more and more of us will be doing our shopping online instead camping out for the best deal on the that flatscreen tv.