The Black Friday experience may have changed, but millions are still expected to shop in-store

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Unlike previous years, malls were eerily quiet in the hours leading up to Black Friday, but retail experts said shoppers are still expected to flock to stores.

The day after Thanksgiving would usually bring long lines and rushes into stores – also known as Black Friday.

It’s a shopping experience that will forever burn in Victoria Walker’s mind.

“Playstation had just come out,” Walker recalled. “There was a whole bunch of people running around. I thought, ‘Oh my God, I’ve never seen anything like this before!’ It was crazy.”

But the crowds, long queues and chaos have become too much for some.

“I gave it up a long time ago,” Walker explained. “It’s too much. It’s too much.”

However, Black Friday is not dead. The National Retail Federation said 76 million shopped in the store on Black Friday in 2023. But that’s eight million fewer than four years ago. However, this year may be different because Black Friday is so late.

“That means we certainly expect a lot of activity around the Thanksgiving weekend, record purchases, about 183 million consumers, at least,” explained National Retail Federation spokeswoman Katherine Cullen.

If you are one of them, Houston police officers have some advice to be sure.

• Instead of keeping your wallet in a back pocket, put it in the front.
• If you eat at the food court, be aware because the officers say that bags can be changed.
• Try to shop before it gets dark.
• If you’re alone, don’t be afraid to ask for an escort to your car either, whether it’s a store employee or security guard.

If you plan to shop at the store this weekend, you may want to wait until Sunday. The National Retail Federation said last year that about 40 million fewer people shopped on the Sunday of Thanksgiving week compared to Friday.

It’s an annual shopping tradition that has changed over the years. While some are happy to avoid the chaos, they miss the uniqueness the shopping experience can bring.

“It’s kind of good and bad because you don’t get to meet people,” Walker said. “You used to stand in line and you meet new people and a new crowd. Now everyone is at home and they shop online.”

Giving retailers the sales they’re looking for, but a change for shoppers to the chaotic day they’ve known for years.

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