Black Friday May Be Losing Its Mojo

Some $13.1 billion in sales are anticipated this Thanksgiving weekend across all manner of channels, from mammoth shopping centers to online retailers to local shops and pop-up stores. Consumers are eager to score the best bargains, of course, while retailers want nothing more than to attract shoppers to their venues and keep them there for as long as possible this weekend. Why? Well, to lock in their holiday shopping budgets, of course. However, the twain will not necessarily meet: Consumers may well find that better bargains are to be had if they wait until later in the season.