Walmart stretching out Black Friday to five days

Bentonville, Ark. --Following the lead of some other retailers, Walmart is spreading out Black Friday beyond the day after Thanksgiving.

The chain plans to offer its best deals over a five-day period beginning in the last week of November into early December. Wal-Mart also will have some of its deepest discounts online to better cater to shoppers who have grown accustomed to quick home delivery and the ability to check real-time prices on their mobile phones.

“Black Friday is no longer about waking up at the crack of dawn to stand in long lines and hope for the best,” said Duncan Mac Naughton, chief merchandising officer, Walmart U.S. “This year, we’re blowing it out with five days of deals in store and online. We’ll have crazy low prices on the gifts our customers want.”

The retailer’s new Black Friday playbook includes five key elements:

• Five days of deals with tailored events

• More deals than ever – online and in stores on the hot brands and licenses such as Apple, Samsung, Beats by Dr. Dre, “Frozen,” and “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”

• The return of its industry exclusive 1-Hour Guarantee

• Its first-ever interactive circular

• Store-specific plans to help manage crowds and make the shopping experience easier.

Walmart is offering shoppers 30% off on entire categories from 6 a.m. to noon Friday through Sunday, and hold additional sales on categories on those days. The discounter is also holding online sales throughout the weekend, and will offer free shipping on its top 100 gifts. Rival Target is offering free shipping on all online purchases through Dec. 20.

Other retailers have also announced Black Friday deals that extend before and beyond the actual day. Target, for example, began giving shoppers early access to select deals this week and plans a presale on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.