NEW YORK, Oct. 21 (UPI) -- U.S. retailers are customizing the Black Friday shopping day to suit their needs in an attempt to outflank shoppers who experts say are focused on discounts.
"It's been a boring year in retail, but in the next six to eight weeks, it is going to break out into a civil war. Retailers are fighting for a smaller pie and the only way to win is to beat each other," said Brad Wilson, founder of BradsDeals.com, The Chicago Tribune reported Thursday.
Finding shoppers are gunning for deals, Sears Holding Co. is stretching the term "Black Friday," designated as the day after Thanksgiving, to include Friday and Saturday sales between now and the end of November.
Banana Republic, meanwhile, is hedging its bets. On the assumption that its customers want to avoid Black Friday crowds, the clothing chain is holding a "Not Black Friday" sale Friday, Dec. 3, the week after the real thing.
"This is going to be a problem throughout November as retailers will be attempting to attach the words 'Black Friday' to as many sales promotions as possible," BFAds.net said. "There will be very many good sales in the next five weeks leading up to Black Friday, but there will also be an equal amount of mediocre sales masquerading behind the Black Friday name," the Web site proclaimed.
