Happy Holidays! Black skies and traffic jams expected to characterize Dallas' Black Friday this year
Americans take fewer holidays than most of the industrialized world, ecommerce marketplace, Rakuten's Buy.com, asks, 'how will you spend yours?'
DALLAS, Nov. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- With weather sources predicting that Dallas could get as cold as 49F this Black Friday, dropping from last year's already low temperatures, Dallas shoppers are bracing themselves for long lines under grey, cloudy skies. Ranked as one of the best shopping cities in the country, Dallas should prove a consumer's paradise at this time of year but inclement weather and rising traffic trends could slow shoppers down significantly this year warns Rakuten's Buy.com.
Year on year traffic increases in a city known for its dispersed shopping meccas could have a negative impact on shopper success, particularly at a time of year when some of the best advertised deals are gone from the shelves by 8am. When time is of the essence, the 18 percent year on year traffic increase recorded last year at Cedar Hill and ten percent more vehicles on the road at the Allen and Fairview centers could be the make or break for some unlucky bargain hunters this year. Previous traffic increases were also recorded by the NorthPark Center and Creek Mall – in a city already positioned as a top shopping destination, this could spell disappointment, and frayed tempers, for some.
What was traditionally a time to spend with family and friends is increasingly dominated by fights and frustrations. The quest for a bargain last year saw a Garland woman trampled by shoppers eager to get their hands on discounted consumer electronics while an incident in Mansfield saw another escape an aggressive crowd by climbing across a vegetable stand to safety, as displays were ripped to shreds.
Bernard Luthi, COO & CMO at Rakuten Buy.com commented: "The average American gets 14 vacation days per year, fewer than most of the industrialized world. It's remarkable that some Texans are going to spend that precious time off by putting themselves through long wait times on line, both in and out of their cars – particularly when an increasing number of bargains are available online – without leaving the comfort of your couch.
"Missing the mayhem of the stores around the holidays doesn't need to mean missing out on deals or gifts for loved ones. The rise of mobile commerce as well as online shopping means that you can snag that bargain wherever you might be during the holidays. Currently, only eight per cent of Americans are currently shopping from mobile devices but we're expecting that figure to grow inexorably over the coming years as people tire of putting themselves through marathon and stressful shopping trials."
If you plan to dodge the crowds and stay at home, Rakuten's Buy.com is offering site-wide discounts across its 20 million products offered by its 5,500 merchants—that include your local small businesses and your favorite major brands. Find them all at www.buy.com/blackfriday.
About Rakuten's Buy.com
With more than 18 million customers, Rakuten Buy.com is a leading retail marketplace, focused on providing its customers with an entertaining shopping experience and a broad selection of retail goods at everyday low prices. Rakuten Buy.com connects buyers and sellers in a global marketplace that allows shoppers to buy from people, not the internet. By providing a large selection of products from Computers, Electronics, Fashion, Health & Beauty, Video Games, Home Furnishings & Decor, Baby & Toys, Pets, Sporting Equipment and more, Rakuten Buy.com shoppers support local merchants as well as the brands they love. Founded in 1997, Buy.com joined Rakuten in 2010 to continue its mission to provide a simple, connected and human alternative to the ecommerce experience. Buy.com is headquartered in Aliso Viejo, CA. For more information about Rakuten's Buy.com, please visit www.buy.com.
About Rakuten
Rakuten, Inc. (JASDAQ:4755), is one of the world's leading Internet service companies, providing a variety of consumer- and business-focused services including e-commerce, e-reading, travel, banking, securities, credit card, e-money, portal and media, online marketing and professional sports. Rakuten is expanding globally and currently has operations throughout Asia, Western Europe, and the Americas. Founded in 1997, Rakuten is headquartered in Tokyo, with over 10,000 employees worldwide. For more information, visit: http://global.rakuten.com/group.
Dan Gamble
415-971-7938
[email protected]
SOURCE Rakuten Buy.com
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