Gretchen Koback Pursel is the new chief people officer at the company formerly known as Saks Global.
Black Friday to reign as busiest shopping day
Four of the 10 busiest shopping days of the year will happen between Dec. 20 and 24, although Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, is expected to remain the single busiest shopping day this holiday season, ShopperTrak said Tuesday.
Chicago--Four of the 10 busiest shopping days of the year will happen between Dec. 20 and 24, although Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, is expected to remain the single busiest shopping day this holiday season, ShopperTrak said Tuesday.
This is the 10th year in a row that Black Friday is expected to be No. 1 in terms of sales and foot traffic for the holiday season.
“Super Saturday,” the final Saturday before Christmas that falls on Dec. 21 this year, will be the second-strongest shopping day of the season, followed by Dec. 22 and Dec. 20, ShopperTrak predicts.
“Some shopping days, like Black Friday and Super Saturday, are always busy. But calendar changes affect each holiday season differently. Because Christmas falls on a Wednesday this year, it will create its own mid-week momentum without compromising the typically high weekend shopper activity,” said ShopperTrak founder Bill Martin.
The holiday shopping season is shortened this year as there are only four weekends between Thanksgiving and Christmas, down from five last year.
ShopperTrak is predicting consumers will make fewer store visits in November and December--specifically 1 percent fewer than in 2012--but isn’t expecting the trend to translate into a decline in spending; rather, the company is forecasting a 2 percent rise in national retail sales compared to the same months last year.
The predicted 10 busiest days of the 2013 holiday shopping season are contained in the chart below, beginning with the busiest day.
Sales rank
Date
1
Friday, Nov. 29 (Black Friday)
2
Saturday, Dec. 21 (Super Saturday)
3
Sunday, Dec. 22
4
Friday, Dec. 20
5
Saturday, Dec. 14
6
Monday, Dec. 23
7
Thursday, Dec. 26 (day after Christmas)
8
Saturday, Nov. 30
9
Saturday, Dec. 7
10
Saturday, Dec. 28
Source: ShopperTrak
Last year’s 10 busiest shopping days accounted for more than one-third (36 percent) of sales of general merchandise, furniture and other products (GAFO) for the period of Black Friday (Nov. 23, 2012) through Jan. 5, 2013.
This year, ShopperTrak said stores will see slightly more traffic than last year on Black Saturday (Nov. 30), the day after Black Friday. In addition, the company says six out of the 10 busiest shopping days will be either a Saturday or Sunday.
“The four weekends between Thanksgiving and Christmas are pivotal for retailers. Though shoppers may wait until the weekends to hit the stores, they
The Latest

Bromberg is remembered as a Southern gentleman who always wore a suit and tie and treated others with kindness.

With high durability and a wide range of colors to choose from, sapphires may be the ultimate birthstone, Gizzi claims.

Submit your pieces for a chance to win in this year's competition.

Laughter is often considered a distraction in the workplace, but it has benefits for both staff and management, Peter Smith writes.


The California jeweler is renovating its store in Fresno, with plans to show off the new space in December.

A lifelong practitioner of Pilates, Gabrielle looked to the springs’ tension and suspension when creating this ring, our Piece of the Week.

Retailers are seeking new ways to attract customers, increase traffic, and create revenue – Estate buying events are a popular solution.

The deadline to apply is Nov. 13.

The auction house has promoted Remi Guillemin, formerly its head of watches for the Americas and EMEA, to the role.

Zaven Ghanimian discussed the value of human craftsmanship and where the implementation of artificial intelligence does work.

Jewelers of America also revealed the recipients of the Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship and its own scholarship programs.

The British actor, known for his roles in “Twilight” and “The Odyssey,” will star in a campaign for the Master Control Chronometre.

The “Confetti Disco,” “Champagne Cheers,” “Tuxedo,” and “Classic Punk” jewelry collections each capture a distinct spirit of celebration.

Nelson Holdo of Newport Beach pleaded guilty to multiple counts of felony grand theft and writing bad checks and was sentenced Monday.

Cat ladies of the jewelry world, unite. Sandy Lerner’s “significant” collection of cat jewelry and other objects is going up for auction.

Arnaud Michon, the former Omega USA President, will now lead Messika’s Americas region during its international development.

The branding references the back-to-back jewelry shows that new parent company Forge will host in Miami's Coconut Grove this November.

The stainless steel Patek Philippe “Calatrava” watch from the 1930s sold for nearly $80,000 at a recent Hansons Cornwall auction.

Engagement rings are important but don’t ignore the customers who are buying jewelry “just because,” Emmanuel Raheb writes.

Former Pomellato CEO Sabina Belli has been named president of Kering Italia amid a shakeup of Kering's new Jewelry division.

The veteran luxury packaging executive was appointed to help the company grow its North American business.

Once the property of an Egyptian queen, the necklace was part of a larger exhibition of VCA jewelry at the Museum of Applied Arts (MAK).

The labs’ separate investigations each determined that the East African country is producing copper-bearing tourmaline.

“Chicago Collects: Jewelry in Perspective” at the Oshkosh Public Museum will feature works by Fabergé, Lalique, and Louis Comfort Tiffany.

The “Worn Well” collection is Catbird's take on classic men's jewelry.

This Buddha Mama butterfly is our Piece of the Week honoring the legend, who embraced the beautiful insect as her symbol.






















