- Title: Bargain hunters hit the stores as Black Friday sales begin
- Date: 25th November 2016
- Summary: CULVER CITY, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (NOVEMBER 25, 2016) (REUTERS) MAN WALKING WITH LARGE TELEVISION BOX WOMAN WITH TV BOX IN CART CHRISTMAS TREE AND HOLIDAY DECORATIONS VARIOUS OF PEOPLE LOOKING AT HOLIDAY DECORATIONS SANTAS AND PENGUIN HOLIDAY DECORATIONS PEOPLE LINING UP AT CHECKOUT WITH CARTS PEOPLE WALKING WITH CARTS MAN LOOKING AT TV WITH 'SALE' SIGN (SOUNDBITE) (English) SHOPPER CHRIS GIBSON SAYING: "About a year, I have a big space in my living room and I've been watching TV in the other room for a while, so I said it's time to get a TV so I waited for Black Friday" BOY PLAYING VIDEO GAME GIRL PLAYING WITH DISPLAY PHONE PEOPLE SHOPPING FOR ELECTRONICS PEOPLE PLAYING VIDEO GAME PEOPLE WALKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) SHOPPER MANDY GADILLA SAYING: "We come every year for Black Friday, so we just come and see to see what's out there, to see what's left, that's how we shop, depending on what's left, you know, we don't get up at 4am to go, we just come in." VAIROUS 'SALE' SIGNS TV SCREENS (SOUNDBITE) (English) SHOPPER PEDRO OBANDO SAYING: "I did come last night, I mean I got some deals last night, but at the same time there is still good deals left, you just have to go through. I mean, it's kind of hard to just sit in line and wait until, you know, to get the best deals out there, but you know, sometimes there is some good diamonds out there still left in the rubble." WOMAN LOOKING AT ITEMS (SOUNDBITE) (English) SHOPPER DAVE WALLS SAYING: "We are looking for stuff for our grandchildren, we're looking for some Legos and some specific toys. My wife is mainly the shopper, I'm following around and helping." WOMAN PUSHING CART FILLED WITH SHOPPING
- Embargoed: 10th December 2016 21:43
- Keywords: Black Friday stores shopping Thanksgiving holiday
- Location: CULVER CITY, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
- City: CULVER CITY, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: Economic Events
- Reuters ID: LVA00159Y2KW7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Bargain hunters hit the stores on Black Friday (November 25) morning, traditionally the start of the holiday shopping season.
At a Target store in the Los Angeles suburb of Culver City, crowds were thin but enthusiastic.
The store opened at 6pm on Thanksgiving Day (November 24) (0200gmt November 25) but shoppers were optimistic that there were still bargains to be had.
"We come every year for Black Friday, so we just come and see to see what's out there, to see what's left, that's how we shop, depending on what's left, you know, we don't get up at 4am to go, we just come in," said Mandy Gadilla.
"I did come last night. I mean I got some deals last night, but at the same time there is still good deals left, you just have to go through. I mean, it's kind of hard to just sit in line and wait until, you know, to get the best deals out there, but you know, sometimes there is some good diamonds out there still left in the rubble," said Pedro Obando.
By Thanksgiving evening, online spending by U.S shoppers had climbed to $1.13 billion, according to Adobe Digital Index, surging almost 14 percent from a year ago.
Target Corp said it had seen one of its "strongest days ever" online on Thursday.
For years, Black Friday has started the holiday shopping season in the United States with retailers offering steep discounts. But its popularity has been on the wane with the emergence of online shopping and cheap deals through the year from retailers.
The holiday shopping season, which runs through Thanksgiving and Christmas on Dec. 25, can account for as much as 40 percent of retailers' annual sales.
The National Retail Federation has said it expects sales this holiday season to increase by 3.6 percent to about $656 billion, mainly due to the rise in online shopping. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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