As retailers are gearing up for the biggest shopping weekend of the year and Americans are working on their holiday shopping lists, two things are top-of-mind: rebuilding in the wake of Superstorm Sandy and the looming fiscal cliff.
In a recent interview on Bloombgerg TV, NRF’s Senior Vice President Ellen Davis discussed the impact of both Sandy and the fiscal cliff on consumers leading in to the holiday season. The fiscal cliff negotiations are unfortunately “happening at the worst time,” she stressed, right when consumers are planning their holiday budgets. Davis also highlighted the growing trend of retailers opening on Thanksgiving Day, noting consumers have increasingly shown that they love the idea of shopping at night so they can sleep in on Friday.
While only time will tell their impact, retailers are geared up for the holiday weekend and making sure to do everything they can—from in-store to online promotions—to make sure shoppers find exactly what they’re looking for and more.
Watch the segment below.