US Black Friday: more shoppers but less spent per head

WASHINGTON - The American shopping orgy known as Black Friday lured more buyers this year but they spent less per person thanks to great bargains, an industry group said Sunday.

More than 154 million people made purchases during the four-day retail extravaganza that began Thursday on Thanksgiving, compared to 151 million last year, the National Retail Federation said.

Shoppers spent an average of $289.19, compared to $299.60 in 2015.

Sales over the Thanksgiving holiday, which extends into so-called Cyber Monday, are a good indicator of the health of US consumer spending.

Online sales dominated. A total of 44 percent of those who took part in the NRF survey said they had bought via the internet while 40 percent went to a brick-and-mortar store.

"It was a strong weekend for retailers, but an even better weekend for consumers, who took advantage of some really incredible deals," NRF president Matthew Shay said.

The most popular day to shop online was Black Friday itself, the day after the Thanksgiving holiday. Of those who purchased online over the four-day period, 74 percent did so on Friday, up 1.3 percent from last year.

And of the people who went to actual stores over this shopping period, 75 percent did so on Black Friday, up 3.4 percent from last year, the NRF said.

Millennials, aged 18-34, drove the increase in shopping, with eight out of ten buying something over the long weekend.

Around 56 percent of smartphone owners and 53 percent of tablet owners used these devices to assist with their shopping.

The study was carried out by Prosper Insights & Analytics with a sample of 4,330 people on November 25-26 and has a margin of error of 1.5 percentage points.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

'Target' closures in Canada shock Pinoy employees

CALGARY, Canada - American retail giant Target is shutting down its stores in Canada. The announcement came as a total shock to everyone, not only to customers but more so for Target employees.

Many Filipino workers who have been with Target since the start felt confused and lost when they learned the news.

A Target employee who did not want to identify himself to the public said they were told a few months ago that some non-performing stores might close down, but not every store in the country.

They were advised not to speak to media.

"As in, iyun ang future mo, iyun ang work mo tapos after five minutes I've been receiving calls, text na kamusta ka na? Anong nangyari sa iyo? I never replied to anyone because I was still in shock," the employee said.

He now plans to go back to school, upgrade his skills and at the same time look for a job but not in the retail sector anymore.

"I'm trying to get to a trade school to upgrade my credentials kasi I majored in electrical, so might as well use that and get into the construction business," he said.

With over $1.5 billion in losses, Target's failed business venture into the Canadian market has become an eye-opener for many American companies wanting to do business in the country.

A Pinay former nanny-turned-Target employee said the future is dim for the thousands who will lose their jobs.

"Nalungkot, tapos siyempre hindi lang mga Pilipino ang mawawalan ng trabaho pati ibang lahi din," she said.

She plans to study again and go back to the Philippines.

Target says, "Employees will receive a minimum of 16 weeks of compensation including wages and benefits coverage for employees who are not required for the full wind-down period."

Target's impending closure in Canada has left many people with an unsure future especially with the economic recession in this country.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com