Black Friday is Here to Stay
Mothers and daughters out on 3rd street Promenade shopping among huge crowds during COVID-19 pandemic. Sun., Sept. 27, 2020 in Santa Monica, Calif. (Alex Ramirez Canales/The Corsair)
The notorious days of holiday deals and shopping, Black Friday and Cyber Monday, are soon approaching and many are wondering how they will differ from years past. The question on many people's mind is if these sales will be exclusively online, as most things have become, or if the shopping spree will be able to take place in person.
Retailers have been preparing for the coming events that will bring a frenzy of people trying to get the latest deals and newest items before they return to their original price.
Many retail managers believe Black Friday will continue as it has for years. With the many concerns of COVID-19, people may be swayed to shop online for not only their own health and safety, but that of the employees they may come in contact with in the midst of all the holiday sale madness.
Jermani Carr is a Santa Monica College student who has been working at the Hollywood & Highland Forever21 for over a year. “People still come in and shop like they did before the pandemic started, so I don’t think it will change much,” she said. "I know that the day can bring lots of chaos but I still feel the virus won't have an effect on [it]."
Angela Ramos, who has been working at the Hollywood & Highland Sephora for over two years, feels that “as long as customers wear their mask, respect others, and make sure they are the appropriate distance from each other, there should be no problem.”
Matthew Reynolds, assistant manager at Sephora, has seen "plenty of Black Fridays. [It] definitely feels there will be no change in this year's shopping, probably just limiting the amount of people coming in, if it comes to that," he said. As the day soon approaches, Reynolds and many others in retail get ready for whatever the day will bring.
Stores still expect there to be an influx of online business, as many customers are still wary of going out. As online shopping has become more popularized, stores have had to extend their return policies, as fitting rooms have been closed to slow the spread of the virus.
The cycle of shopping and returning has become a routine for employees and customers. This is not expected to stop, but possibly surge, as the infamous holidays approach.
With the surge in online shopping and re-opening of stores, there is no foreseeable end to the Black Friday experience. It's important to remember to be mindful of others, keep an appropriate distance, and wear a mask when planning to go out and catch the latest deals.
