Retailers crank up holiday competition early to nab shoppers
Call it Orange and Black Friday.
Big retailers are pushing the holiday shopping season even earlier this year. Target kicked off the holiday preseason this year offering free shipping on online orders through Dec. 20. Wal-Mart will start offering discounts this weekend and more deals next week.
Retailers have been struggling to boost sales in recent holiday seasons, said Brian Yarbrough, an analyst who follows the retail trade for the investment firm Edward Jones.
"Retail, it's always competitive. Every year, it seems like they keep creeping closer and closer to Halloween and offering deals," he said. "This year, it looks like we're going to go ahead and launch 'em today from some deals that Wal-Mart seems to be launching out there."
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