Today is "Cyber Monday"--the Monday after "Black Friday" (for Shopping) (that is, the day after Thanksgiving in the USA). This was "self-proclaimed" last year as the equivalent day for Internet shopping as "Black Friday" is for retail "brick and mortar" stores.
Sales have been promoted over the last few weeks--both in physical stores and Internet stores--and retailers are "letting out the stops" to encourage purchasing any way they can convince shoppers to buy.
I shop regularly via the Internet when I have something that is offered in that medium. Cyber Monday did not influence me to make any purchases and the ones I'm making now are my routine purchases that I would be making regardless of the day or promotion.
The media is tracking "Black Friday" and "Cyber Monday" and reporting the ups and down in shopping compared to last year. The economy is still having its own ups and downs and there will be more demand for the available dollars than there are dollars.
The "best buys" and "steepest discounts" don't have much meaning if you cannot use the money for shopping the "latest and greatest" (in whatever form it takes.)
Showing posts with label sales. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sales. Show all posts
Monday, November 30, 2009
Friday, November 27, 2009
Black Friday--Start of "Official" Christmas Shopping Season in the USA
"Black Friday"--the "official" starting date of the Christmas Shopping season in the USA is the day after Thanksgiving. Retailers prepare for that date because, historically, sales on that date put the retailers "in the black" (on the positive side of the ledger) for the year--rather than being "in the red" (on the negative side of the ledger).
With the economic downturn in the USA in 2009, retailers have been concerned. Some opened on Thanksgiving and some have been pushing "Black Friday" sales earlier than the official "Black Friday" to make sure consumers bought merchandise in their stores rather than finding them somewhere else.
Shoppers participate fully in the event, sometimes camping out in the parking lots before major retailers until they open their doors at special hours set aside for "Black Friday" shopping. Smaller amounts of merchandise on special sales are expected to be made available this year, making the competition to get the desired product at the best price even keener among consumers.
Though many items may be on sale, many consumers, experiencing the economic downturn directly, may not be in a position to take advantage of the sale prices until their personal economies become more stable--putting the consumers "in the black" in their own ledger books.
I didn't shop today, though I was in and around shopping areas. I did not see the crowds the media had led me to expect and it was a beautiful, sunny, day--a little cool (good to be indoors) with little traffic congestion on the roads.
I shop online for many things and go to discount stores and membership shopping clubs (Sam's Club and Costco) for many of the things I purchase for gifts and for personal use. I'm not rushing to spend money this year and my gift budget will be for smaller items than in prior years. "Quality over quantity this year" is a good perspective to have.
I did hear my first Christmas music for the year. I'm glad I like the music because I'll be hearing it until December 26th, 2009.
With the economic downturn in the USA in 2009, retailers have been concerned. Some opened on Thanksgiving and some have been pushing "Black Friday" sales earlier than the official "Black Friday" to make sure consumers bought merchandise in their stores rather than finding them somewhere else.
Shoppers participate fully in the event, sometimes camping out in the parking lots before major retailers until they open their doors at special hours set aside for "Black Friday" shopping. Smaller amounts of merchandise on special sales are expected to be made available this year, making the competition to get the desired product at the best price even keener among consumers.
Though many items may be on sale, many consumers, experiencing the economic downturn directly, may not be in a position to take advantage of the sale prices until their personal economies become more stable--putting the consumers "in the black" in their own ledger books.
I didn't shop today, though I was in and around shopping areas. I did not see the crowds the media had led me to expect and it was a beautiful, sunny, day--a little cool (good to be indoors) with little traffic congestion on the roads.
I shop online for many things and go to discount stores and membership shopping clubs (Sam's Club and Costco) for many of the things I purchase for gifts and for personal use. I'm not rushing to spend money this year and my gift budget will be for smaller items than in prior years. "Quality over quantity this year" is a good perspective to have.
I did hear my first Christmas music for the year. I'm glad I like the music because I'll be hearing it until December 26th, 2009.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
"What's in it for me (WIIFM)?"--Theme song of education and business
"What's in it for me (WIIFM)?" is a theme of adult learning that also permeates K-12 education, business-to-business relationships, and business-to-consumer (and consumer-to-business) relationships.
Educators need to address the WIIFM concerns to get students ready to learn. Business-to-business (B2B) sales must address those concerns as must business-to-consumer (B2C) sales. President Obama faces these concerns in issues over health care (and everything else he is proposing.) Members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives must address those issues for themselves and for their constituents (voters) in the votes they take "on the hill."
Is that so bad? Abraham Maslow documented his "hierarchy of needs" (see slide 5) and talked about moving from survival to belonging to recognition to self-esteem to self-actualization. WIIFM deals with levels one through four on this hierarchy. Self-actualized people are seen as more altruistic--looking to add value to others. We certainly need more people operating at these higher levels when the lower levels are met.
At the same time, when we want others to to connect with us or to become involved with us, we need to address the WIIFM concerns so that our target audience will find reasons to engage with us. Our messages need to take these concerns into account.
Educators need to address the WIIFM concerns to get students ready to learn. Business-to-business (B2B) sales must address those concerns as must business-to-consumer (B2C) sales. President Obama faces these concerns in issues over health care (and everything else he is proposing.) Members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives must address those issues for themselves and for their constituents (voters) in the votes they take "on the hill."
Is that so bad? Abraham Maslow documented his "hierarchy of needs" (see slide 5) and talked about moving from survival to belonging to recognition to self-esteem to self-actualization. WIIFM deals with levels one through four on this hierarchy. Self-actualized people are seen as more altruistic--looking to add value to others. We certainly need more people operating at these higher levels when the lower levels are met.
At the same time, when we want others to to connect with us or to become involved with us, we need to address the WIIFM concerns so that our target audience will find reasons to engage with us. Our messages need to take these concerns into account.
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