Why Black Friday Is Losing Its Prominence During The 2016 Holiday Shopping Season

Consumers are already in “buy now” mode for the holidays, which puts pressure on retailers to be nimble in turning around holiday inventory and sustaining product levels over the next several months. With Black Friday promotions starting earlier and earlier, shoppers have come to expect good deals much sooner. You need not look far to find an example: Just this week, Overstock.com launched its Black Friday Sneak Peek event, which began offering doorbuster deals on Tuesday for up to 70% off home goods and other products, and will run through Oct. 27. In a press release announcing the event, Overstock.com President Saum Noursalehi said he wants to give shoppers the option “to realize savings sooner and spread out the costs associated with the holidays.” The e-tailer’s bargains may be a little ahead of the curve — even overlapping with Halloween promotions — but analysts say it won’t be long before other retailers roll out pre-Black Friday deals. Read more at Retail Dive.