UPDATE 2-U.S. Black Friday sales barely up, online surges

[FarCenter]

* Black Friday sales up 0.5 pct vs 2008, ShopperTrak finds

* Online sales jumped on Black Friday, Coremetrics says

* U.S. shoppers say they are focused on bargains

By Jessica Wohl -- http://www.reuters.com/article/companyNewsAndPR/idUSN2826332520091128

CHICAGO, Nov 28 (Reuters) - In a worrisome sign for U.S. retailers, data released on Saturday showed that sales rose a scant 0.5 percent on the traditional kickoff to the holiday shopping season despite early signs of a strong showing.

A focus on bargains pulled U.S. shoppers into stores and onto websites over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, but many said they would stick to their budgets and avoid purchases if they could not find a good deal.

Those trends appeared to play out in the results issued by ShopperTrak, which measures customer traffic in stores.

The firm said retail sales rose to $10.66 billion on Black Friday, which often is the single busiest shopping day of the holiday season and can set the tone for the weeks leading up to Christmas on Dec. 25.


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Shoppers spent 35 percent more on Black Friday web purchases than a year earlier, with the average order value reaching $170.19, according to online retail analytics company Coremetrics. Those shoppers bought an average of 5.4 items per order, up from 4.6 items last year, Coremetrics said.

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[OHdem10]

1. When they describe ONLINE SHOPPING, does this include

retailers OVC, Home Shopping, MSNBCShops.

I never hear them mentioned and have just been curious. Anyone
know???

[FarCenter]

2. I believe that "online" is ordering through web sites.

It would not include orders placed via 800 numbers.

But it does include web site business done by firms with bricks and mortar presence, e.g. Staples, B&N.

Coremetrics Benchmark 2009 Black Friday Report

http://www.coremetrics.com/solutions/benchmark-report-black-friday-cyber-monday-2009.php?cm_sp=holiday-benchmark-reports-_-website-_-homepage-tile

[Tunkamerica]

3. I just heard QVC made 32 million on black friday, a 60% increase on last year

[Individualist]

4. I would think that would include all online shopping

The three you mentioned all have websites. The best online sales will be Cyber Monday.