COMPARED with the usual crowds camping out overnight, awaiting the opening of shops’ doors at 6am, Black Friday morning in both Richards Bay and Empangeni had a quiet start, with the only noticeable queue outside Checkers Liquor Shop.
Owing to Covid-19 restrictions – particularly the midnight to 4am curfew – camping overnight was prohibited this year, and with many shops extending their Black Friday deals for the whole of November, shoppers have – so far – not appeared to be flocking to the stores.
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It is payday weekend, which is notoriously busy on Saturdays and Sundays, so this could be the calm before the storm.
However, in the run-up to Black Friday, many shoppers indicated that, owing to Covid-19 fears, they were not willing to get caught up with the masses of bargain-seeking consumers.
But retailers were hoping that foot traffic would increase during the course of the day.
One retail worker told the ZO that items such as TVs and electronics were not selling as quickly as in previous years.
‘Maybe the crowds are not as big this year because most stores ran black Friday sales in the weeks leading up to the day,’ said the retailer, who asked to remain anonymous. ‘Despite this, we had expected more people.’
Police have, so far, recorded no major incidents, and traffic remains at a normal flow throughout the city.
Shoppers who do venture out today are urged to remain vigilant, check that cars are locked, and avoid leaving handbags and belongings in trolleys.
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