Thanksgiving Weekend Shopping, By The Numbers

November, 2014

The biggest shopping weekend of the year is only days away and retailers are gearing up for another Thanksgiving weekend of holiday shopping and promotions.

Since the recession, retailers competing for shopping dollars and market share have had to rethink tried-and-true holiday marketing strategies.  Good prices, great value, unique product assortment and convenience are just a few of the aspects that contribute to happy holiday shopping experiences.

Some companies are generating buzz and responding to consumer demands by opening on Thanksgiving Day, while others look to promote their brand by resisting early openings on Thursday.

Here's a look at key numbers from Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday in 2013:

• 44.8 million: Consumers who shopped on Thanksgiving Day, up 27 percent from 2012.
• 92.1 million: Consumers who shopped on Black Friday in 2013.
• $407: Average amount spent by holiday shoppers from Thanksgiving Day to Sunday, down 4 percent from 2012.
• 248.7 million: Number of shoppers who were in stores and online over Thanksgiving weekend in 2013, up 0.5 percent over the previous year.
• 4.9 percent: Portion of holiday shopprs who were at stores by 5pm on Thanksgiving Day.
• 37 percent: Portion of holiday shoppers who were at stores by 12:01am on Black Friday, up from 28 percent in 2012.
• 64 percent: Portion of holiday shoppers who went out on Thanksgiving Day or visited stores by 10am on Black Friday.
• 45 percent: The amount of holiday shopping the average consumer had completed by the Sunday after Thanksgiving, up from 42 percent in 2012.

With more than $50 billion in sales on the line for just a single weekend during retail's most competitive season, retailers will be looking for ways to wow their customers.  It's too soon to say if the Thanksgiving Day shopping trend will fade or if the buzz will build in 2015, but this year, we're betting on another strong turnout.

Source: National Retail Federation