ASHWAUBENON, WI (WTAQ) – It’s the start of another holiday shopping season.
One executive at a major, Ashwaubenon-based, retailer talks about how the shopping landscape has changed and how it’s stayed the same.
For better than two decades Jim DePaul, C-O-O for Shopko, has gone through what used to be known as Black Friday.
“the trend going into Black Friday has been a good one, so we’re definitely optimistic.”
Online shopping is much bigger than it was even 10 years ago. Retailers like Shopko have had to change with the times.
“we’re trying to give the customers all the options they want…both from a digital online experience as well as inside the store.”
DePaul expects electronics and appliances. They’re also counting on picking up sales from other retailers who’ve closed down in 2018.
“especially with Toy R Us out of the market this year, we’re expecting a stronger overall sales volume out of the toy department.”
November & December sales count for up to 40-percent of Shopko’s yearly business.
Consumers have already spent at least 1.75 billion dollars shopping online since Wednesday and that number is only going to climb as deal hunters hit the stores.
And if Black Friday’s not your thing, there’s always Small Business Saturday.
After that, it’s on to Cyber Monday.
