Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1053035
NEWS maltatoday | SUNDAY • 18 NOVEMBER 2018 LAURA CALLEJA THE international shopping day phenomenon commonly known as Black Friday kicks off this week, with not only big sav- ings on the day, but with various outlets offering deals from as early as Monday. This year Black Friday falls on 23 November. Traditionally, an American Holiday, it falls straight after Thanksgiving in the US and is widely known as one full of deals. With online retail stores such as Amazon of- fering ridiculously cheap prices for items ahead of the Christmas season, Malta – over the last few years – has embraced Black Fri- day wholeheartedly with sales increasing during this period due to shops opening late and introducing more discounts and offers every year. GRTU CEO Abigail Mamo told MaltaToday that the GRTU believed that Black Friday would be a success this year, with an increase in awareness but also additions in business participa- tion. However, Mamo said that concerns were raised over the lack of human resources avail- able. "We believe that Black Friday will be another big success this year with increased consumer awareness but also additions in business participation. A con- cern highlighted was the lack of available human resources that could assist clients. We hope that this year businesses will be able to mitigate this by having all hands on deck on the day." Last year, the GRTU ex- pressed fears over Black Fri- day, stating that this would take away from the spend- ing usually made during the Christmas season. "Concerns expressed last year in Black Friday were that this might be a shift in consumption from the spend in the Christmas season but our end-of-year sur- vey highlighted an overall posi- tive year for business and that the Black Friday impact was minimal in this regard." This year, Black Friday is ex- pected to surpass last year's sales, and most of the deals from local stores have already caused a buzz on the island among shoppers hoping for a bargain or two. The Point Shopping mall was the first place to promote the day in Malta, introducing ex- tended hours and discounts over the years. This year, it will once again be open from 9am until midnight on the day with all the shops inside offering spe- cific items on discount. Forestals, for the fourth time, will also be holding Black Friday sales which will follow into the weekend on numerous items in store. Klikk is kicking off Black Fri- day as early as Monday, with of- fers on for the entire week end- ing in a "mega sale" on Friday in both of its stores. Computer store Scan Malta, for the third consecutive year, will have discounts on popu- lar items, with sales of 70% and more on the day. The discount- ed items will be known in-store on the day. These are just a few of the shops on the island that are participating in the event. Mamo said that the GRTU does partially agree that Black Friday could affect Christmas sales, however, the GRTU still believes that the overall con- sumption will increase as con- sumers appreciate the offers and will spend more. "Members fear a shift in con- sumption and when taking eve- rything into consideration we do believe that this is partially true but we also believe that overall consumption increases as consumers appreciate the advantageous offers and spend more willingly." Mamo explained that mem- bers within the GRTU this year were taking Black Friday as an opportunity and have joined the phenomenon in increasing numbers. Furthermore, she ac- knowledged that members out- side of the traditional shopping localities and those who do not sell items traditionally associ- ated with Black Friday do have a harder time including them- selves in the holiday. "Members that are positioned outside the traditional shopping localities and those that are not normally associated with Black Friday have a harder time in- cluding themselves and some naturally suffer from low sales as a consequence. It is however very enjoyable to see this united momentum and very diverse business sectors coming up with different innovative ideas to rise to the occasion." The concerns that were put forward last year with regard to traffic, remain an issue for the GRTU as members fear traffic may be accentuated. "It is be- cause of this that the GRTU will be discussing special arrange- ments with the authorities with the aim to ease traffic flows on the day," Mamo said. 14 • 81 • 68 • 49 • 83 / 9 • 58 • 17 17-11-2018 Draw No: 750 Another successful Black Friday expected available human resources that could assist clients. We hope that this year businesses will be able to mitigate this by having all hands on deck on the day."