FOR THE MACY’S DEPARTMENT STORE, HOSTING A PARADE ISN’T JUST ABOUT CELEBRATING AMERICA’S HISTORY AND BEING GRATEFUL – IT’S ALSO A KICKOFF TO THE HOLIDAY SHOPPING SEASON.
MAYBE YOU’VE HEARD ABOUT BLACK FRIDAY – THE DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING WHEN STORES OFFER BIG SALES, OR CYBER MONDAY- THE MONDAY AFTER THANKSGIVING WHEN ONLINE STORES DO THE SAME?
WELL SOME STORES ARE FIGHTING BACK SAYING THEIR EMPLOYEES DESERVE TO HAVE THANKSGIVING DAY OFF TO SPEND WITH THEIR FAMILY. THIS YEAR THE MALL OF AMERICA ANNOUNCED FOR A SECOND YEAR IN A ROW THEY WILL BE CLOSED ON THANKSGIVING DAY.
JEN RENSLOW, SVP OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, MALL OF AMERICA: "IT'S LIKE WE ARE BUILDING ON TRADITION. NOW BLACK FRIDAY IS THE BIGGEST DAY FOR RETAIL. TRADITIONALLY IT'S THE HOLIDAY TO KICK OFF THE BIG HOLIDAY SEASON SO WE WANTED TO CELEBRATE THAT WITH OUR EMPLOYEES AND REALLY SHOW THAT WE APPRECIATE THEIR EFFORTS FOR COMING IN ON THAT BIG DAY. AND FOR THOSE THAT ARE ELIGIBLE TO GET THAT HOLIDAY PAY ON A BIG SHOPPING DAY WHEN THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE COME HERE TO SHOP."
RICK: OF COURSE IN OUR DIGITAL WORLD YOU CAN ALWAYS JUST SHOP ONLINE. AND JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAY RUSH, AMAZON, A HUGE ONLINE STORE, IS OFFERING A NEW WAY TO ADD ITEMS TO YOUR VIRTUAL SHOPPING CART.
SHOPPERS CAN SEE THINGS USING AUGMENTED REALITY.
AMAZON SAYS IPHONE CUSTOMERS CAN SHOP FOR HOME OFFICE PRODUCTS, DECOR AND ELECTRONICS -- AND GET A LOOK AT HOW THOSE PRODUCTS WOULD LOOK IN THEIR OWN HOMES.
HERE'S HOW IT WORKS:
CUSTOMERS WITH NEWER IPHONES CAN CHOOSE TO SHOP IN A-R THROUGH THE AMAZON APP.
THERE, THEY CAN PICK A PRODUCT -- INCLUDING FURNITURE, APPLIANCES, TOYS AND ELECTRONICS -- AND OVERLAY IT ONTO THEIR LIVING SPACES TO SEE HOW IT FITS.
THE APP ALSO ALLOWS PRODUCTS TO ROTATE A FULL 360 DEGREES
PRETTY COOL. BUT WHILE IT CAN BE TEMPTING TO JUST SPEND, SPEND, SPEND DURING THE HOLIDAYS; PEOPLE ARE ALSO USING IT AS A TIME TO GIVE BACK.
GIVING TUESDAY IS AN ONLINE INITIATIVE TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO DONATE TO CHARITIES WHILE THEY ARE IN A GENEROUS MOOD.
AND OF COURSE THERE IS ALWAYS THE OPTION TO SAVE YOUR MONEY. A NEW REPORT FOUND THAT MILLENNIALS ARE SAVING MORE OF THEIR MONEY THAN THEIR PARENTS. MILLENNIALS ARE A GENERATION GROUP BORN BETWEEN THE 1980S AND EARLY 2000S SO THEY ARE BETWEEN THE AGES OF ABOUT 15 AND 35.
MILLENNIALS WITNESSED BIG CHANGES IN THE ECONOMY DURING THE 2008 STOCK MARKET CRASH. AND NOW SOME THINK THAT MIGHT HAVE THEM SQUIRRELING AWAY THEIR MONEY IN 401(K) ACCOUNTS THAT LET YOU SAVE MONEY FOR WHEN YOU RETIRE LATER IN LIFE.
Find Out More
Website: Mall of America | Official website
Website Article: History.com, What’s the Real History of Black Friday? | Why do stores offer such great deals?
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Interactive Website: U. S. Census Bureau, Young Adults Then and Now | Pick a state and explore statistics about the population of its young people
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