The coronavirus pandemic is causing many big-box retailers to opt for a more online shopping experience this Black Friday. Stores such as Best Buy, Walmart and Target are making more web deals available. These chains follow the lead of Amazon and eBay, who have become dominant players in the market.
There’s been significant growth in online shopping in recent years. According to the National Retail Federation, online sales will increase between 20% and 30% this year, totaling $202.5 billion to $212.4 billion. This compares to $168.7 billion in 2019. Additionally, the federation estimates sales in November and December will increase from 3.6% to 5.2% over last year.
Retailers are nudging consumers to begin their holiday shopping earlier by offering deals throughout the season instead of turning Thanksgiving Day or Black Friday into the official kickoff date.