KNBN reports “a strong turnout” at the Rushmore Mall for Friday’s capitalist bacchanalia, but the report is all typical pro-business boosterism without any hard numbers telling us how many people defied good public health sense and crowded into stores and how that turnout compared with previous post-Turkey Day sales.
Sensomatic Solutions reports that Black Friday shopping in the United States dropped by more than half, thanks to more than a few people—shoppers and shopkeepers alike—taking coronavirus seriously:
Findings indicate that shopper visits resulted in a 52.1% decline in traffic on Black Friday, November 27, compared to 2019. Shopper traffic also decreased 45.2% week-to-date (Sunday, November 22 – Friday, November 27) compared to same period last year.
“Due to COVID-19 and social distancing requirements, shoppers were more purposeful in their in-person Black Friday shopping, causing significantly less crowds than we’ve seen in the past,” said Brian Field, senior director of global retail consulting, Sensormatic Solutions. “This was compounded by retailers not offering as many in-store doorbusters and the increasing adoption of e-commerce” [Sensormatic, press release, 2020.11.28].
Coronavirus concerns also crushed the abomination of shopping on Thanksgiving Day:
Visits to physical stores on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, decreased by 94.9% compared 2019.
“Although traffic on Thanksgiving Day has risen in recent years, we are not surprised to see the departure from this trend in 2020,” said Field. “Many well-known retailers elected to close on Thanksgiving this year to prevent crowds in stores and give their hard-working employees more time with their families. Additionally, with Black Friday deals being spread throughout the holiday season, the typical holiday traffic peaks are flattening, with more days sharing importance throughout the season” [Sensormatic, 2020.11.28].
Over in the United Kingdom, where Prime Minister Boris Johnson is wrestling with Tory rebels over his coronavirus lockdown, Black Friday shopping took a similar dive:
The research provider Springboard, which monitors retail footfall, said visits to shopping destinations were down by 58% across the UK by 3pm on Friday compared with last year. Footfall was down most on high streets and at shopping centres. The biggest fall was in central London, with a drop of 82.9%.
However, the decline in footfall was far lower in Wales and Scotland where Covid restrictions allow more shops to open. Footfall in Wales was down by a third across the country compared with Black Friday a year ago, while retail visits were down by 50% in Scotland [Richard Partington, “Big Fall in Black Friday UK Retail Sales Despite Online Spending Boom,” UK Guardian, 2020.11.27].
For the record, on Friday, I spent $4 on one gallon of milk at the walk-up window at the Cenex at 8th and 2nd.
We don’t have our coronavirus shots yet, and when we do get them, we’re prioritizing healthcare workers, not shoppers. There is nothing at the Rushmore Mall that is worth a bout with coronavirus. Shop less, shop safely, shop online.
Other than groceries and medicine, I’m doing no shopping in person anywhere. On-line only. The truth is, all smaller stores and artisans, etc., need to set up an on-line presence, because that is the now and the future.
I get meds mailed to me at no extra cost and I can call at least three different grocers and they will round up my order and bring it out to load.
Good sense is easy, just imagine your tombstone with a phrase like “he or she, went to the mall one last time”. Use that idea for all of your proposed journeys out. I know that covid is probably not a killer for you but it is for many in your family. When the CDC listed the top ten problems you may have with covid, I had two of the first four and stopped reading. We just decided on a life change because my wife had two also. It’s easy, come on you have hundreds of tv channels to pick from and morning walks carrying a mask to put on when you meet anyone and you will save tons of money too. It’s not so bad really. My five o’clock beer on the porch helps. If you have to go to work just follow the protocols. Keep safe.
SD State Senator Red Dawn Foster plea to the rest of Us.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDiSOKwtIDk
Eve, indeed: online shopping doesn’t have to be the death of local merchants. our Main Street shopkeepers still have phones, right? Their Internet still works. Post your inventory online, with good pictures, put up your phone number, an offer to deliver. If you don’t want to drive around town, outsource your delivery to UPS< just like Amazon.. If local shops have stuff worth buying, they can still advertise, sell, and deliver it safely. And we can all shop for it safely.
But Snow Queen Kristi Noem is more willing to put out social media messages telling us to go out and risk each other’s lives to shop than she is to urge people to wear masks and take other precautions.
More from Scenic, SD with Ali Velshi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5q_-TBJ2k1I
People just need to be smarter, Mr. H. And if you stay home, you can’t get infected by the people who are running around in stores with snotty noses. The best way to oppose the shopping is to stay home.
Your right Cory, I order Spitzmer from Renner Corner every year.
Yes, and I know a lot of artists and craftsmen to whom Etsy has been the best thing since sliced bread and / or Renaissance Fairs!