It's a tradition for the ages: As the year-end shopping season kicks off, retailers across the country announce plans for seasonal hiring, bringing on a temporary workforce to help manage the holiday crush.
But like everything else in 2020, seasonal retail jobs are undergoing pandemic disruptions. Last year, Macy's announced it would bring on 80,000 holiday employees; that number dropped to 25,000 this year. J.C. Penney hired 37,000 in 2019; this year it's only hiring 1,700.
Many things are taking place:
Stop overpaying online with Capital One Shopping's browser extension | Engadget
If you're an avid online shopper, you know the power of a great promo code. After all, why would you buy something at full retail price, when you could own it for a fraction of the cost? Part of the beauty of online shopping is that it's easier (and more instantaneous) to compare deals than going to physical stores. And these days, it's easier than ever to save money without spending your precious hours scouring the internet for a good deal.
There's also a price comparison function that lets you know if that product you have in your Amazon or Target cart is cheaper on a different website or if there's a better shipping option available. That comes in pretty handy if you need something a little more urgently or if you can manage to wait around for a few extra days. Eyeing something up but want to see if a better price might be available to you in a few more months?
What We Like About Pandemic Shopping - The New York Times
This article is part of the On Tech newsletter. You can sign up here to receive it weekdays.
America's upended shopping habits are a glimpse at how we've been altered by this pandemic-scarred year.
For the week that traditionally kicks off the holiday shopping season, I spoke with Sapna Maheshwari , who writes about retail for The New York Times, about how the pandemic might alter Black Friday and permanently change shopping in America.
Downtown La Crosse chocolate shop gets creative to sweeten customers into shopping local for the
LA CROSSE, Wis. (WKBT) — When shopping for holiday gifts this year, small businesses in La Crosse are asking residents to invest in them. One business in downtown La Crosse is getting creative to make sure customers feel safe while shopping.
* * *
“Like many retailers, Christmas is the busiest time of the season,” said Laurie Finn, owner of Finnottes Nut and Chocolate Shop.
“It’s been the family business, my husband and I started it and believe it or not, only started with a few containers of mixed nuts or cashews, this is what it’s graduated to over the years,” said Finn.
Were you following this:
Black in Black: Pandemic restores Black Friday shopping tradition | Englewood Sun | yoursun.com
Many retailers like JC Penney in the Port Charlotte Town Center mall had week-long Black Friday sales leading up to the day after Thanksgiving this year due to the pandemic.
* * *
Reminders to stand 6 feet apart and follow other COVID-19 guidelines are in stores like Macy's this holiday season.
COVID-19 stopped a decade's-long practice by major big-box retailers opening at 4 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day for an early start on their massive early Black Friday sales, pushing that start to Friday morning.
Holiday Online Shopping Safety Tips - Middleburg Heights
The holiday season is a prime time for hackers, scammers, and online thieves. Due to the pandemic, this holiday season may look and feel a bit different, but we all still need to be aware of the potential dangers online shopping can bring and the ways we can protect ourselves.
The best defense against these threats is awareness. There are a few simple steps we all can take to be more secure before and after we shop.
Retailers disappointed in governor's message to avoid shopping
BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) - Gov. Phil Scott says if you don't have to shop on Black Friday, don't. The state is trying to prevent a Thanksgiving surge of COVID cases. But the message has some Vermont businesses concerned.
Mayor Miro Weinberger and other local leaders say there are still other ways to shop local if you don't feel safe shopping in person.
The governor did not say retailers need to close, but he asked them to follow the coronavirus protocols, such as limiting the number of customers, and he did urge people not to shop unless they have to.
Black Friday Shopping: Hours and Restrictions This Year Amid COVID-19 – NBC Chicago
With one of the biggest shopping days of the year just days away, several area malls have announced new guidelines to manage crowds and avoid the spread of COVID-19.
Malls across the Chicago area have announced changes in hours and further restrictions for Black Friday shopping with many not opening until morning.
* * *
Aurora police announced Black Friday shopping at Chicago Premium Outlet Mall will begin Friday morning at 6 a.m. as opposed to the shopping center's typical Thursday night start.
No comments:
Post a Comment