Retailers Are Scrambling For Your Money

Article written by: Angela L. Serrette
Posted on: November 18, 2009

This holiday season, will you take advantage, or be taken advantage of?

The consumer has always been in control.  The economic downturn has re-confirmed this. It’s a simple equation: If consumers don’t shop, retailers go out of business.

With the economy in the state it is in and so many consumers concerned about their financial futures, retailers are scrambling and using all methods to get consumers to buy their products.

For example, catalogues arrive in the mail with special promotional coupons amd other incentives.  Retailer flyers will be sent with “in-store” shopping passes, good for specific purchases. The famous in store un-advertised specials.   And Twitter updates on all sales!

The retail business is so slow there are early predictions this Christmas season will not be in the black.  However only the consumer has time on their side. Retailers need dollars now to survive.

For this reason online retailers are scrambling to encourage consumers to shop.  You name it retailers have done it: every day savings, promotional codes, online shopping invites, gifts with purchases. Let’s not forget the early push for next season’s wardrobe which can be seen in all major department store window displays.

But to be honest consumers and retailers are hurting in this economy.  But the consumer still has the power to “make or break” a retailer based on shopping habits,   Nowadays all of us are trying to save and the fact is, gimmicks no longer work.  Consumers are choosier and take longer to make purchasing decisions due to our economic challenges.  Retailers on the other hand must find a way to lead us back to the cash register.

Given all of the above factors in play, both economic analysts and consumers will be watching how the biggest shopping days of the year play out in 2009: Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Black Friday this year falls on November 27, the day after Thanksgiving. It will the first litmus test of how far retailers are willing to go this season in order to gain access to your wallet, and how much consumers will be taking the bait.

Additionally, with less people venturing out due to regular flu and swine flu concerns, it is predicted that even more people will be doing their holiday shopping online.

Stay tuned at SoJones.com: we’ll be publishing Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals and discount codes as they become available.

Will you be hitting the malls on Black Friday? Or will you be staying in to do your shopping online?