What Might Black Friday Look Like This Year?

As the holiday season approaches, there are growing questions about how holiday shopping will kick off. For the last several years, Black Friday shopping has started on Thanksgiving Day and into Black Friday, but this year, shoppers are shying away from the big event. The latest Accenture Holiday Shopping Survey finds that shoppers are minimizing in-store shopping and choosing home delivery. It also shows that shoppers would prefer stores to remain closed on Thanksgiving Day.

According to the survey, 76% of consumers want retailers to remain closed on Thanksgiving Day, and half of those respondents said retail workers deserved a say off. Another 61% of respondents in the survey said that they plan to minimize in-store shopping this year and that they would be most comfortable shopping in stores that show a high level of concern for health, safety and hygiene practices.