Every year, retailers battle for over a month to attract November and December holiday shoppers. This year, in order to draw more shoppers to their stores, most retailers are offering more than just savings on gift items. .
In 2009, The New York Daily Times published an article that described the holiday season as a "more practical season", where it was expected that many consumers would shop for everyday items such as flannel shirts, blankets, and underwear. Stores were not only offering price cuts on big-ticket items like televisions and computers to draw shoppers, but they were also using necessities like diapers and socks to lure them in. This year, convenience is the biggest incentive being offered to consumers.
Nearly every retail advertisement between the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays is a command to hurry up, buy gifts for everyone on your list - at amazing prices - before it's too late! In an attempt to "win" the holiday customer wars, retailers are lowering their prices to beat the competition, placing "must have" items on sale, promoting layaway programs and promising a shopping experience that's all encompassing. Many other retailers are advertising early this year, and some are keeping their doors open 24/7 from November until Christmas Eve. .
For example, Black Friday is not only being marketed as Black Friday Week, but many stores are beginning a tradition of promoting Black Friday Month. Walmart is not only offering free shipping on over 60,000 items, but they are also providing free return shipping and the convenience of returning online purchases to a local store. And, for the first time in the store's history, Sears will be open on Thanksgiving Day. Target and J.C. Penney are siding with Walmart when it comes to offering the incentive of free shipping, and fans of Old Navy can shop for holiday bargains on Thanksgiving Day. Kohl's and Target will increase web sale items on Thanksgiving Day, as they count "Turkey Day" as their busiest online shopping day of the year.
