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Britons Turn Backs on Black Friday as Hush Falls on Shops

Major retailers such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc.’s Asda and Next Plc are steering clear of the event completely.

Bloomberg

24 November 2016

LONDON, United Kingdom — Two years after British shoppers fought with bare hands for Black Friday bargains, the nation is starting to turn its back on the American holiday tradition.

Major retailers such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc.’s Asda and Next Plc are steering clear of the event completely, while others such as J Sainsbury Plc’s Argos are spreading offers over a longer period as Britons tire of standing in line for discounts on a day they would normally be working.

The stores’ loss is online retailing’s gain, with internet spending set to increase 16 percent to 1.27 billion pounds ($1.6 billion) on Nov. 25, researcher IMRG forecasts.

By Paul Jarvis; editors: Matthew Boyle and Sheldon Reback.

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