Sabtu, 30 November 2019

Cyber Monday 2019: Our guide to all the deals at Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart and more - CNET

CNET editors pick the products & services we write about. When you buy through our links, we may get a commission.

Black Friday is in the rear-view; Cyber Monday is coming. Here's every single sale you need to know about.

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2019-11-30 17:13:00Z
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Fiat Chrysler, UAW reach new tentative labor deal - CNBC

UAW President Gary Jones (left) and FCA North America Chief Operating Officer Mark Stewart opened 2019 contract talks with a ceremonial hand shake during an event on July 16, 2019 at the company's North American headquarters in Auburn Hills, Mich.

Fiat Chrysler

DETROIT – Fiat Chrysler and the United Auto Workers union have reached a tentative deal on a new labor contract amid tumultuous times for both sides.

The UAW Bargaining Committee agreed to a deal with Fiat Chrysler to add $4.5 billion in investments, translating to 7,900 jobs over the course of a four-year deal, according to a UAW statement. The $4.5 billion comes on top of an earlier pledge of $4.5 billion for a total of $9 billion marked for new investment, UAW Vice President Cindy Estrada said in the statement.

Fiat Chrysler confirmed in a statement that it had reached a tentative deal with UAW. 

Last week the UAW turned its attention to Fiat Chrysler – the last of the Detroit automakers it needs to seal a new contract with in 2019.

The agreement comes days after the resignations of two high-ranking union officials, including UAW President Gary Jones, who were connected to an ongoing federal corruption probe of the union. Jones, whose Michigan home was raided by federal agents in August, has not been charged by federal prosecutors.

It also comes nearly a month after Fiat Chrysler announced plans to merge with French automaker PSA Group.

A final agreement is likely at least a week or two away from being approved or rejected by rank-and-file union members. The UAW-Fiat Chrysler National Council will meet on Dec. 4 to go over details of the proposed deal. If adopted, the tentative agreement will go to all Fiat Chrysler hourly and salary workers for a ratification vote that will begin on Dec. 6, according to the statement.

The pact is expected to share many of the same terms as the union's recent contracts with Ford Motor and General Motors. Those deals included 3% raises or 4% lump-sum bonuses each year of the contract, retention of roughly 3% out-of-pocket health-care costs and a path for temporary workers to become full-time employees.

"Out of respect for our members, we will refrain from commenting any further or releasing full details of the agreement until the UAW-FCA Council leaders meet and review the details," said Estrada in the statement.

GM also agreed to $11,000 ratification bonuses for most of its full-time employees. Ford agreed to $9,000 ratification bonuses, however previous contracts have included lower amounts for Fiat Chrysler workers.

The federal probe into corruption of the UAW, which started with Fiat Chrysler, has led to charges against 13 people, including seven convictions of people affiliated with the union and three Fiat Chrysler executives.

-- CNBC's Alex Sherman contributed to this report

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2019-11-30 16:03:00Z
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Most holiday shoppers prefer buying gifts online - not in stores - Fox Business

More than half of consumers are shopping online for their holiday gifts, according to a new report.

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According to the Holiday Outlook 2019 report released by PwC, 54 percent of respondents plan to do their holiday shopping online, compared to 46 percent who plan to go in-store.

That’s almost the opposite of the trends in 2015 when 58 percent said they planned to shop in-store and 42 percent said they planned to shop online.

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The report also found that younger generations who are planning to shop online expect to use their phones almost as much as their personal computers to make purchases.

Meanwhile, older generations who are planning to shop online plan to use their personal computers over their smartphones.

However, millennials (as well as metro residents and Amazon Prime members, according to the report) are also looking to have more of an experience when they shop.

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More than half of the millennials overall who responded said they believe shopping is “an event to be experienced," which includes eating out, while only 44 percent of all consumers agreed with that sentiment.

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PwC also found that 60 percent of young millennials (aged 24 to 27) said they would “go out of my way for a superior shopping experience,” whereas only 40 percent of all consumers agreed.

Even though Black Friday has traditionally been viewed as one of the biggest days of holiday shopping, PwC found that only 36 percent of respondents said they would go shopping on Black Friday itself. Back in 2015, that number was 59 percent.

In fact, only 19 percent of people said they planned to finish their holiday shopping during the week of Black Friday, while 49 percent said they would finish their shopping after that week.

According to PwC, Black Friday has become less important because of the increase in online shopping, other deals that Amazon runs on Prime Day and the fact that retailers start offering Black Friday deals much earlier in the month.

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Similarly, a study from Deloitte found that 53 percent of people will take advantage of Cyber Monday deals, with only 44 percent shopping Black Friday discounts.

PwC even found that while 24 percent of people don’t plan to shop at all on Thanksgiving Day, 32 percent said they would shop online, 17 percent said they would shop in-store and 22 percent said they would do both.

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Overall, consumers are expected to spend an average of $1,284 on entertainment, gifts and travel, according to the report, which is an increase of 2.7 percent from last year.

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2019-11-30 13:02:34Z
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Best Black Friday tech deals heading into Cyber Monday: MacBook, iPad - Mashable

Just to let you know, if you buy something featured here, Mashable might earn an affiliate commission.
Image: Mashable photo composite

Black Friday weekend is in full swing — because, let's face it, deals don't just last one day anymore

We've gone through all the major retailers to scope out the best deals across the tech spectrum and there are some pretty killer deals on laptops, TVs, headphones, smartphones, tablets, and gaming devices heading into day two. 

Rather than making you go through pages and pages of deals, we're offering you a condensed list of all of the best ones. We just like you that much.

SEE ALSO: What's the difference between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, anyway?

So, enjoy your holiday weekend and happy shopping!

Best laptop deals

All the best Black Friday tech deals: MacBooks, 4K TVs, headphones

Image: Lili Sams / Mashable

The laptop deals we're most hyped about are the MacBook Pro deals at Best Buy. Select models are $200 or $300 off and they come with a year free of Apple TV+ and three months free of Apple Music. MacBook deals can be pretty hit or miss, so it's good to see a solid hit, especially on the new MacBooks Pros with Touch Bar. There's also a MacBook Air model that's $200 off at Best Buy.


Best TV deals

All the best Black Friday tech deals: MacBooks, 4K TVs, headphones

Image: SONY

Bigger is not always better when it comes to TVs. Sure, an 85-inch TV sounds awesome until it's time to figure out where you can actually fit it in your home. (If you have that kind of space, then congrats, no need to flex.) We're loving the TCL 50-inch 4K Roku TV on sale at Walmart for $249.99, saving you $230, proving that you don't have to drop a small fortune for a decently sized 4K smart TV.


Best headphone deals

All the best Black Friday tech deals: MacBooks, 4K TVs, headphones

Image: Sennheiser

Sennheiser might not be the first name that pops into your mind when you think of headphones, but it's definitely a brand to watch. Sennheiser's HD 4.50 SE wireless noise-canceling headphones are a pretty stellar audio accessory. And $79.95 (their Black Friday price) is a really great price to pay for a decent pair of noise-canceling headphones from a reputable brand.


Best smartphone deals

All the best Black Friday tech deals: MacBooks, 4K TVs, headphones

Image: GOOGLE / MASHABLE COMPOSITE

Google is winning the smartphone Black Friday game. Pixel phones are up to $350 off — even the new Pixel 4 is on sale. Let's see Apple do that.


Best tablet deals

All the best Black Friday tech deals: MacBooks, 4K TVs, headphones

Image: LILI SAMS / MASHABLE

How much you should spend on a tablet depends on what you're going to use it for. If you're an artist or designer, the more advanced iPad Pro is probably the better option for you. But if you just want a tablet as another screen to watch Netflix, browse Twitter, or play Candy Crush we recommend the standard iPad, which happens to be $80 off for Black Friday.


Best gaming deals

All the best Black Friday tech deals: MacBooks, 4K TVs, headphones

Image: MASHABLE

Most of the gaming deals we're seeing are console/game bundles. One of our favorites is the Xbox One X 1TB and Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Bundle at $150 off for a discounted price of $349.99. OK, maybe we just have Baby Yoda on our minds.

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2019-11-30 12:53:00Z
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Starbucks has fired employee who gave Oklahoma officer order with 'PIG' printed on the label, company says - CNN

The Kiefer police officer went to the Starbucks in Glenpool on Thanksgiving day to pick up five drinks, CNN affiliate KTUL reported. Kiefer Chief Johnny O'Mara told the news station a customer pointed out the label on the cups to the officer.
"What irks me is the absolute and total disrespect for a police officer who, instead of being home with family and enjoying a meal and a football game, is patrolling his little town," O'Mara wrote in a Facebook post, where he shared a picture of a cup with the "PIG" label on it.
The coffee company called the incident "absolutely unacceptable" and said it is "deeply sorry to the law enforcement officer who experienced this."
"The Starbucks partner who wrote this offensive word on a cup used poor judgement and is no longer a partner after this violation of company policy," the statement read. "This language is offensive to all law enforcement and is not representative of the deep appreciation we have for police officers who work tirelessly to keep our communities safe."
In a joint statement, Starbucks and Kiefer police said they're using the incident "as an opportunity to leverage our shared platforms to promote greater civility."
The company will meet with Kiefer police to discuss ways to work together, including by jointly hosting a Coffee with a Cop event at Starbucks for local law enforcement to meet with baristas and community members to discuss "the critical role dispatchers and police offers play in keeping our communities safe," the joint statement said.

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2019-11-30 11:21:00Z
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Jumat, 29 November 2019

Restaurants don't get the Black Friday boost you might expect. Here's why - CNBC

Black Friday is still expected to be the busiest shopping day of the year. But restaurants don't necessarily get a spending boost as consumers head out to snag deals.

The NPD Group analyzed receipts from a panel of 150,000 customers nationwide and found that last year the big traditional shopping days were not the highest restaurant volume days. In fact, Black Friday 2018 was only the 14th best restaurant day in the holiday period. The top restaurant day was Saturday, Nov. 17, the weekend before Thanksgiving.

"Everyone has this assumption that because Black Friday is a traditional big brick-and-mortar shopping day that it creates a big boom for restaurant traffic," said David Portalatin, vice president and food industry advisor for the NPD Group. "I am certain that restaurants that are co-located in shopping malls or are very close to big retail destinations probably have a pretty good day on Black Friday. But it's just not a big day for the restaurant industry as a whole."

The dates analyzed by the market research company were Nov. 4, 2018, through Jan. 5, 2019, and include all restaurant categories.

NPD did find that December showed an increase in people eating out after they shopped or ran errands, but it's likely they would have eaten out anyway during a normal weekend. Big shopping days like Thanksgiving and Black Friday are days when restaurants tend to not perform as well, relative to a typical Thursday or Friday, the group said.

The two worst days of the season for restaurant volume were Christmas Day and Thanksgiving Day.

"The vast majority of us are going to eat Thanksgiving dinner either in our home or in someone else's home. And guess what happens the day after Thanksgiving? It's leftovers time," he said.

But it's not all bad news for restaurants during the holiday season.

"Holiday is an opportunity for the restaurant space," Portalatin said. "We find that 46% of consumers this year plan on giving gifts that are intangible gifts, or an experience of some kind, and that 45% of consumers plan on giving gift cards. The number one intangible or experiential gift they want to give is a food and beverage experience."

Most of the major restaurant stocks have had an uneventful holiday season from early November through January over the past five years as well. The best performer has been Wendy's, which has a market cap of $5 billion, up over 4%.

But while the stocks may not show it, Portalatin says those that serve beverages like coffee will likely see a boost.

"You are going to find that Starbucks is absolutely jam-packed because people are going to have a lot of beverage-only occasions between meals," he said. "So you'll likely find a very long line queued up there for coffee."

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2019-11-29 14:20:00Z
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Black Friday Arrives Without the Mad Rush - The Wall Street Journal

Black Friday shoppers sort through denim at Bass Pro Shops at Patriot Place in Foxboro, Mass. Photo: MARK STOCKWELL/Associated Press

The strength of the American consumer as a driving force behind the economy was on display during the annual Black Friday ritual, as shoppers headed to malls and trolled websites looking for deals.

Buoying spending is a strong U.S. job market, where wages are growing, even for lower income workers, and a booming stock market, which is making the wealthy feel better off.

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Online sales on Thanksgiving Day were up 20% from a year ago and reached $2.1 billion as of 5 p.m. ET, according to Adobe Analytics, which tracks activity on thousands of websites. About 46% of those purchases were made on mobile devices, up from 34% a year ago, Adobe said.

Natalie Mendo, a 24-year-old student in Queens, N.Y., went shopping on Thanksgiving to see how the prices in her local mall stacked up against what she has seen online. “I’ll see if there’s anything really great,” she said at a crowded New York City mall. “If not, I’ll go home and do some Cyber Monday shopping.”

At Rolling Oaks Mall near San Antonio, a light stream of shoppers began appearing late Thursday night. A relaxed atmosphere gave way to mostly unhurried customers, though department stores such as Macy’s were more bustling than others.

Customers have frequented the indoor mall less as outdoor shopping centers with elegant restaurants have popped up nearby. On Thursday, some stores were visibly without a tenant, sitting empty and dark. While J.C. Penney Co. opened its doors as early as 2 p.m., other stores, such as Dillard’s and H&M, weren’t open as Black Friday festivities began.

“The mad rush isn’t here anymore,” said Reila Prose, a 40-year-old San Antonio-area resident who goes out each year during Black Friday. “The mall has dwindled. You can get everything online.”

The latest read from most retailers is that consumers continue to spend. Walmart Inc., Target Corp. , Best Buy Co. and Dick’s Sporting Goods Inc. were among the chains reporting strong demand heading into the holidays. Even retailers that stumbled, such as Urban Outfitters Inc., said the consumer remains healthy.

The American consumer “is willing to spend when offered compelling products and the value is right,” Richard Hayne, Urban Outfitter’s chief executive, said on a conference call earlier this month. “We expect her to spend more this holiday than in years past.”

On Black Friday in 2018, more than 80% of online shopping carts were abandoned, according to research firm Barilliance. But retailers are hoping new pay buttons will help, and investors are paying close attention.

Comparison shopping and spending are moving online, especially during the holidays, but the majority of retail purchases are still made in stores. Retailers have responded by pushing deals earlier in the season. Most stores open their doors on Thanksgiving Day, pulling sales from Black Friday itself. And retailers roll out new online promotions the following Cyber Monday.

Before its 8 a.m. opening on Friday, about two dozen shoppers waited outside the entrances at International Plaza and Bay Street, a high-end mall in Tampa, Fla. Many people said they were planning to browse stores such as Nordstorm or grab coffee at Starbucks, and had no specific shopping plans.

“It looks like an average weekend here,” said Lou Martinez, a physician standing in line at the Starbucks inside the mall. The 66-year-old said he is drawn to Black Friday because he likes to “come out where the crowd and commotion is,” but over the years he has noticed its dwindling relevance.

In the past, stores like Macy’s used to be “jam packed when they opened, and it was hard to find a parking spot,” he said. “Today I had no problem finding parking.”

Black Friday has lost some of its grip on shoppers, but retailers and researchers disagree just how much of the spending has shifted. Adobe estimates that online sales for Black Friday will reach $7.5 billion but be eclipsed by Cyber Monday, when it forecasts sales will reach $9.4 billion.

NPD Group, a research firm that analyzes receipts from more than 100,000 consumers, says Black Friday was the top shopping day for both in-store and online last year. “Early deals get some attention, but many consumers will wait for the real thing to get their holiday started,” said NPD analyst Marshal Cohen.

Shoppers crowded the aisles at Bass Pro Shops in Foxboro, Mass., on Friday, hunting for bargains. Photo: Mark Stockwell/Associated Press

Some retailers weren’t ready for the spike in online shopping this year. Costco Wholesale Corp. extended its Thanksgiving Day-only online deals through Friday after the website slowed and some shoppers reported trouble checking out. “We apologize for any inconvenience,” Costco’s website said Friday morning.

Analysts and retailers are counting on the strong economy to prevent a repeat of last year, when spending got off to a strong start but slowed markedly in December over concerns of a government shutdown, a trade war and stock market turmoil.

For this year’s November-December period, the National Retail Federation expects retail sales to rise between 3.8% and 4.2% to between $727.9 billion and $730.7 billion. That is stronger than the 2.1% growth of last year, but less than the 5.2% increase in 2017. The figures exclude automobiles, gasoline and restaurants.

There are some worrying signs. While retail sales grew modestly in October, categories bought during the holidays such as clothing, electronics and recreational goods, reported declines.

Due to a late Thanksgiving, there are six fewer shopping days until Christmas.

“Given the unusually short holiday sales season, the softness in spending was particularly disappointing,” said Lydia Boussour, an economist with Oxford Economics, a research firm.

While some economists expect consumer spending to slow next year, they say there are few signs that shoppers are overextended the way they were heading into the last recession.

Household debt as a share of income is lower today than it was in 2008, and the savings rate remains high, hovering around 8%, according to James Bohnaker, economist at research firm IHS Markit. That compares with August 2005, when the savings rate was 2.7%.

“Consumers are still in a pretty good place,” Mr. Bohnaker said.

Shoppers waiting for the Black Friday opening of an At Home store in Frisco, Texas, on Friday. Photo: LM Otero/Associated Press

Write to Suzanne Kapner at Suzanne.Kapner@wsj.com

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2019-11-29 13:40:00Z
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Mercedes-Benz owner Daimler to cut 10,000 jobs worldwide - BBC News

Daimler, the German carmaker that owns Mercedes-Benz, has said it will shed at least 10,000 jobs worldwide as it seeks to fund the switch to electric cars.

Daimler personnel chief Wilfried Porth told journalists the number of jobs lost would be "in the five figures".

The move comes days after rival Audi said it would cut 9,500 of its 61,000 jobs in Germany for similar reasons.

Daimler said the car industry was going through "the biggest transformation in its history".

"The development towards CO2-neutral mobility requires large investments, which is why Daimler announced in the middle of November that it would launch a programme to increase competitiveness, innovation and investment strength," the firm said.

"Part of this programme is to reduce staff costs by around €1.4bn by the end of 2022 and, among other things, to reduce the number of management positions worldwide by 10%."

Electric cars

Daimler, which has a global workforce of nearly 300,000 and factories in 17 countries, said it would reduce costs and employment "in a socially responsible manner", including the use of "natural fluctuation".

"In addition, the possibilities for part-time retirement will be expanded and a severance programme will be offered in Germany in order to reduce jobs in the administration," it added.

Daimler said its plans had been agreed with the firm's works council, which includes union representation.

German carmakers have been slow to adapt to new technological trends, including self-driving cars and electric vehicles.

At the same time, they have been suffering falling demand in China, while the trade war between Washington and Bejing has also dented growth.

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2019-11-29 13:05:01Z
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US shoppers stay away from stores, spend online as Black Friday begins - CNBC

U.S. consumers splurged more than $2 billion online in the first hours of Thanksgiving shopping on Thursday, while crowds were largely thin at retailers on the eve of Black Friday, reflecting the broader trend away from shopping at brick-and-mortar stores.

Early discounts offered this month by chains seeking to extend this year's shorter holiday season saw a dip in the numbers lining up at stores across the country, according to consultants and analysts making spot checks on the ground.

"We've seen many merchants start their promotions pretty much right after the trick-or-treaters have gone to bed," said Lauren Bitar, head of retail consulting at analytics firm RetailNext.

Jennifer Yen pulls to shopping carts full of items at Wal-Mart Supercenter in Denver, Colorado.

Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Sales made prior to Thanksgiving and Black Friday could erode "the spike that we have seen in sales dollars historically," Bitar said.

The day after Thanksgiving has been America's biggest shopping day, and this year more than 165 million people are expected to take part over the weekend, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF).

While Black Friday still matters, its relevance is fading as the holiday shopping season now begins the week before Halloween and stretches to Christmas Eve with retailers offering deep discounts throughout the season.

The condensed shopping season this year accelerated early promotions and spending. Retailers have six fewer days to make sales between Thanksgiving and Christmas Day this year.

That has pulled spending into early November — more than half of consumers polled by the NRF in the first week of this month had already begun making purchases. On average, Americans had already completed almost a quarter of their shopping, the most in the history of NRF's surveys.

Store openings on Thanksgiving evening have also reduced store crowds lining up for doorbuster deals at the crack of dawn on Friday.

While store traffic still remains an important indicator, a lot of shopping during Thanksgiving and Black Friday now happens online. Adobe Analytics, which measures transactions from 80 of the top 100 U.S. online retailers, estimates $7.5 billion in sales for Black Friday online, a growth of over 20.5% year-over-year.

As of 5 p.m. ET on Thanksgiving Day, shoppers had spent $2.1 billion online, up 20.2% on a year ago. 

Companies including Walmart, Target, Costco, and Best Buy have bulked up their online presence, deliveries and fast in-store pickups to attract customers.

At the other end of the divide, specialty apparel retailers Gap, Victoria Secret-owner L Brands, and department stores Macy's and Kohl's have slumped as they struggle to lure shoppers to malls and away from online giants like Amazon.com.

This year's holiday season will not only test the resilience of such companies but will be a challenge for most retailers as U.S. President Donald Trump's trade war with China begins to take its toll on margins.

A pricing analysis conducted for Reuters by retail analytics firm Profitero, which examined online prices from seven large retailers for 21,000 products, found sites including Walmart and Amazon have held prices steady for many popular holiday products despite the pressure from tariffs on Chinese imports.

The National Retail Federation had forecast U.S. holiday retail sales in November and December will increase between 3.8% and 4.2% over 2018, for a total of $727.9 billion to $730.7 billion. That compares with an average annual increase of 3.7% over the past five years.

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2019-11-29 12:42:00Z
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Black Friday sparks worldwide backlash from politicians, activists - New York Post

PARIS — People don’t celebrate Thanksgiving in France, or Russia, or South Africa – but they do shop on Black Friday.

The U.S. sales phenomenon has spread to retailers across the world in recent years with such force that it’s prompting a backlash from some activists, politicians and even consumers.

Workers at Amazon in Germany went on strike for better pay on one of the busiest days of the year. Near Paris, climate demonstrators blocked one of the retail giant’s warehouses to protest over-production they say is killing the planet. Some French lawmakers want to ban Black Friday altogether.

Consumer rights groups in Britain and some other countries say retailers use Black Friday as a slogan to lure in shoppers, but it’s not always clear how real or big the discounts are. Other critics say it hurts small businesses.
Globalized commerce has brought U.S. consumer tastes to shoppers around the world, from Halloween candy to breakfast cereal and peanut butter, sometimes even supplanting local traditions.

To French activists, Black Friday is the epitome of this shift, a purely commercial event designed to boost U.S. retailers ahead of the Christmas holidays, the symbol of capitalism run amok.

“The planet burns, oceans die, and we still want to consume, consume, and therefore produce, produce – until we eradicate all living things? … We will not betray our children for a 30% discount!” reads a manifesto by groups holding “Block Friday” protests around Paris.

In Britain, where the big winter sales have traditionally been held on the day after Christmas, companies have been adopting Black Friday marketing campaigns since about 2010. After a rise in business on the day in the first years, the volume of shopping has leveled off, with most of it happening online over multiple days.

Research by a U.K. consumer association found that 61% of goods advertised in Black Friday deals last year were cheaper or about the same price both before and after the event.

That echoes similar warnings in other countries. Russia’s consumer watchdog issued a long statement with tips on how to avoid getting fooled, like checking whether prices were raised before Friday to make deals look good or whether delivery costs are inflated.

Shoppers wait to enter Macys department store scheduled to open at 5pm on Thanksgiving Day for Black Friday.
Shoppers wait to enter Macys department store scheduled to open at 5pm on Thanksgiving Day for Black Friday.AFP via Getty Images

The Black Friday advertising push has extended beyond the one day to Cyber Monday, with retailers in several countries spreading them across what’s often called “Black Week.”

In the Czech Republic, one electronics chain encourages shoppers – in English, of course – to “Make Black Friday Great Again,” in an ad featuring a suited man wearing the distinctive red cap used by U.S. President Donald Trump’s election campaign.

While the phenomenon is less widespread in Asia, some major companies like Japan Airlines use it as a slogan.

Broadcasters in South Africa showed people waiting in line to shop in one of the world’s most socially and economically unequal nations. The respected weekly Mail & Guardian newspaper decried in a scathing editorial how Black Friday is used to enrich big retailers.

“Like no other day, this Friday shows how broken the world we have built is,” it said. Among other concerns is that Black Friday could hurt small businesses that do not have the vast marketing budgets and online sales presence of big retail chains or multinationals.

In Italy, for example, Black Friday falls outside the season’s strictly defined schedule for when the winter shop sales can be held. This year, sales cannot be held from Dec. 5 until Jan. 4, when stores are allowed to clear out stock. The fashion industry has warned that can hurt smaller retailers in a country that relies on them heavily.

A French legislative committee passed an amendment Monday that proposes prohibiting Black Friday because it causes “resource waste” and “overconsumption.” France’s e-commerce union, whose members are aggressively marketing Black Friday sales throughout November, has condemned the measure.

Dozens of French activists blocked the Amazon warehouse in Bretigny-sur Orge on Thursday, spreading hay and old refrigerators and microwaves on the driveway. They held signs in front of the warehouse gates reading “Amazon: For the climate, for jobs, stop expansion, stop over-production!”
The activists were later dislodged by police.

A black Friday shopper in Paris
AP

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2019-11-29 12:33:00Z
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Mercedes-Benz owner Daimler to cut 10,000 jobs worldwide - BBC News

Daimler, the German carmaker that owns Mercedes-Benz, has said it will shed at least 10,000 jobs worldwide as it seeks to fund the switch to electric cars.

Daimler personnel chief Wilfried Porth told journalists the number of jobs lost would be "in the five figures".

The move comes days after rival Audi said it would cut 9,500 of its 61,000 jobs in Germany for similar reasons.

Daimler said the car industry was going through "the biggest transformation in its history".

"The development towards CO2-neutral mobility requires large investments, which is why Daimler announced in the middle of November that it would launch a programme to increase competitiveness, innovation and investment strength," the firm said.

"Part of this programme is to reduce staff costs by around €1.4bn by the end of 2022 and, among other things, to reduce the number of management positions worldwide by 10%."

Electric cars

Daimler, which has a global workforce of nearly 300,000 and factories in 17 countries, said it would reduce costs and employment "in a socially responsible manner", including the use of "natural fluctuation".

"In addition, the possibilities for part-time retirement will be expanded and a severance programme will be offered in Germany in order to reduce jobs in the administration," it added.

Daimler said its plans had been agreed with the firm's works council, which includes union representation.

German carmakers have been slow to adapt to new technological trends, including self-driving cars and electric vehicles.

At the same time, they have been suffering falling demand in China, while the trade war between Washington and Bejing has also dented growth.

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2019-11-29 11:58:02Z
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Black Friday protest: French activists block Amazon warehouse - BBC News

Dozens of French activists have blocked an entrance to an Amazon warehouse south of Paris to protest against the environmental impact of consumerism.

Protesters formed a human chain, lay on hay bales and dumped old fridges and microwaves outside the Amazon depot in Bretigny-sur-Orge on Thursday.

They also blocked lorries from passing through.

Police dispersed the activists, whose aim was to disrupt Black Friday sales.

In response, Amazon said it respects the right to protest but accused activists of spreading "false allegations".

The demonstrations are expected to intensify the debate about the environmental impact of Black Friday, which some French lawmakers want to ban in the country.

Earlier this week France's Environment Minister Elisabeth Borne warned against the "consumption frenzy" linked to Black Friday.

The shopping day, during which retailers claim to offer large discounts, began in the US on the Friday after Thanksgiving but has in recent years spread to other countries.

Why did the activists target Amazon?

Environmentalists have accused Amazon of accelerating climate change through its rapid delivery services, which they say contribute to greenhouse gases emissions.

Amazon ships around 10 billion packages per year, according to Reuters news agency.

To mitigate its impact on the climate, the US e-commerce company pledged to go net carbon neutral by 2040 by investing in electric delivery vans, among other initiatives.

At Thursday's protest, about 40km (24 miles) south of Paris, some activists held banners which read: "Amazon: for the climate, for employment, stop expanding, stop over-production".

Where else are protests expected?

The blockade was part of the "Block Friday" demonstrations that are aiming to disrupt Amazon's business operations nationwide.

More demonstrations are expected on Friday, with environmental groups threatening to turn November 29 into a "Black Day for Amazon".

As of Friday morning, dozens of activists from various groups had gathered outside Amazon France's facilities, including its headquarters in Clichy, north-west of Paris.

One of the groups, anti-globalisation movement Attac, said it will "take action across France to disrupt Amazon's business".

In a statement on Twitter, Amazon France said (in French) that it respects "everyone's right to express their opinions" but disagrees with the means used by Attac.

"Amazon's priority is to serve its customers and deliver on its delivery promises," it said. "Our network is robust, reliable, and flexible, and we continue to deliver to our customers without interruption while ensuring the safety of our employees."

Recent polling data carried by the Huffington Post does suggest the popularity of Black Friday may be waning in France.

A third of people surveyed by YouGov France said they were not planning to take part in this year's Black Friday sales. A majority of respondents - 57% - said they believe Black Friday promotions are false.

Are French MPs banning Black Friday?

Some MPs want to, citing concerns over the effects of consumerism on the planet.

An "anti-waste" bill was amended to include a proposal to prohibit Black Friday by a French legislative committee on Monday.

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France's former environment minister Delphine Batho tabled the amendment, which will be debated next month in the National Assembly, the lower house of parliament.

"Black Friday celebrates a model of consumption that is anti-ecological and anti-social," said MP Mattieu Orphelin, a former member of President Emmanuel Macron's LREM party.

A trade union in France has opposed the proposal. So too have conservative MPs, including Republican lawmaker Eric Woerth, who called the debate over the amendment a "useless row".

Meanwhile, Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo is considering implementing new regulations to protect the climate, including a tax on deliveries to ease traffic jams and pollution caused by Amazon and other companies.

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2019-11-29 10:20:41Z
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