Black Friday strategy point of difference

In the aftermath of a trampling death at a New York area Walmart store, it appears Target pursued the more responsible Black Friday strategy, even though it may have cost the company sales.

Walmart hyped its Black Friday deals much of last week by posting its Thanksgiving Day circular online and alerting customers that stores would be open at 5 a.m. with special prices available, “while supplies last.” Walmart stores were also open Thanksgiving Day.

Conversely, Target stores were closed Thanksgiving Day and the company took a different approach toward Black Friday. Its Thanksgiving Day circular promoted a two-day sale with advertised sale prices in effect Friday and Saturday. The stores opened early at 6 a.m., but unlike Walmart and many other retailers, the lack of limited duration prices and merchandise quantities at Target meant its stores didn’t have to deal with the headaches of crowd control or unruly shoppers. The strategy likely cost the company some sales, but no one died.