Walmart announced the "New Black Friday," taking the hottest shopping day of the season to the next level. Days - not hours - of deep discounts on the hottest gifts kick off online Thanksgiving morning and lead right into the store's first event at 6 p.m. The retailer's "New Black Friday" playbook for 2014 includes five key elements:
"Black Friday is no longer about waking up at the crack of dawn to stand in long lines and hope for the best. At Walmart, its become a family shopping tradition where everyone shops at some point throughout the weekend," 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."
Walmart served 22 million customers on Thanksgiving Day in 2013. With this year's Black Friday deals beginning Thursday and lasting through Monday, Walmart is predicting that more families - adults and kids - will flock to its digital and physical aisles to take advantage of the retailer's low prices on electronics, toys, kitchen appliances, bedding and thousands of other popular products.
Compared to 2013, Walmart has lowered the prices on popular Black Friday items. For example, last year a Vizio 60" Smart TV sold for $688. This year a 65" Vizio Smart TV will be available for $648 as part of Walmart's 1-Hour Guarantee. The Xbox One, available last year for $499, will be sold this year as a bundle for $329 with a $30 Walmart Gift Card and is another 1-Hour Guarantee item. The retailer has also increased Black Friday inventory in every category. For example, Walmart has tripled the amount of PlayStation 4 and other gaming consoles available and is offering 30 percent more smartphones, mobile accessories and other wireless offerings.
1-Hour Guarantee - An Exclusive Offer for Walmart Customers
For the third year, Walmart is using its logistics expertise to deliver huge quantities of the hottest gifts with its exclusive 1-Hour Guarantee. Customers in the designated areas of the store between 6 and 7 p.m. on Nov. 27 can purchase the gift they want and either take it home that night or receive it at a store before Christmas. The 1-Hour Guarantee is for the following items:
"We're using our entire supply chain to deliver for our customers in a way no other retailer can," said Mac Naughton. "Our guarantee ensures our customers get the product they came for and enables us to organize the store in a way that makes the shopping experience better for everyone."
After listening to customers who used Walmart's 1-Hour Guarantee last year, the retailer has simplified the registration and pick-up process for those that do not receive the product during the event. This year, customers will be asked to take the following steps:
Mac Naughton added, "We've taken significant steps to improve the 1-Hour Guarantee process from beginning to end. It's simple and seamless."
Walmart's Five Days of Deals
Thanksgiving morning - Parade Watch and Online Shop
On Thanksgiving morning, customers can get a jump on Black Friday shopping on Walmart.com with some of the same deals that will be available in stores that evening. In addition, there will be hundreds of online-only specials with free shipping to home. Some of the online specials include:
6 p.m. on Thanksgiving - Deals for the Entire Family
In addition to the nine 1-Hour Guarantee items, the 6 p.m. event will be full of gifts for the entire family such as toys, pajamas, video games, movies, sheets and more. A few of the deals include:
8 p.m. on Thanksgiving - BIG Electronics Event!
From new technology such as wearables and Ultra High-Definition smart TVs to tablets, sound bars and streaming devices, Walmart's 8 p.m. event will be full of brand-name electronics at amazing low prices. Some of the top deals include:
6 a.m. to noon on Friday, Nov. 28 - 30 Percent off Entire Categories
During Walmart's morning event on Nov. 28, early-risers will get 30 percent off ALL music CDs and Monster High toys, as well as select, Samsung TVs and home audio products, Fisher-Price toys, Christmas trees, Christmas lights and Beauty and Personal Care gift sets.
6 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 28 through Sunday, Nov. 30 - Tires, Wireless, Diamonds and More
For items that can't be grabbed on the go, the retailer will offer the following deals Friday through Sunday:
In addition to these items, products across the retailer's store will be discounted all weekend long, including the Ninja Kitchen System Compact ($79; includes a $30 Walmart Gift Card) and Luxury Microfiber Sheet Sets ($19.97).
Saturday, Nov. 29 and Sunday, Nov. 30 - Hundreds of Online Specials
Walmart.com will also have hundreds of online specials for the two days leading in to Cyber Monday.
Monday, Dec. 1 - Cyber Monday!
Walmart.com has plans to offer amazing prices on everything from electronics to home goods Dec. 1. Cyber Monday will be bigger and better than ever this year at Walmart. Details will be shared soon.
A Better Shopping Experience
Walmart has taken steps to help make shopping its stores on Black Friday fun and safe for its customers. Examples include:
"We've started our pregame stretch and are giving our customers just what they need to score their top picks," said Mac Naughton. "We're ready to deliver the Super Bowl of savings once again."
Appreciating our Associates
In appreciation for their hard work, Walmart will provide more than $70 million in holiday pay to hourly store associates. Walmart store associates who work on Thanksgiving Day will also receive a 25 percent discount on an entire purchase Dec. 4 or 5, enabling associates to save millions of dollars on holiday gifts for their families. This is on top of the quarterly bonus opportunity full- and part-time store associates receive based on their stores' fourth quarter performance.
Editor's Notes:
About Walmart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) helps people around the world save money and live better - anytime and anywhere in retail stores, online and through their mobile devices. Each week, more than 245 million customers and members visit our 11,053 stores under 71 banners in 27 countries and e-commerce websites in 11 countries. With fiscal year 2014 sales of over $473 billion, Walmart employs more than 2 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting http://corporate.walmart.com on Facebook at http://facebook.com/walmart and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/walmart. Online merchandise sales are available at http://www.walmart.com and http://www.samsclub.com.
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