Target Breaks The Internet With Black Friday Deals Thanks To Apple Products
Target literally broke the internet when it came to Thanksgiving and Black Friday sales. The retail giant had its best online shopping day ever on Thursday, Nov. 26.
“Demand outpaced 2014’s record Thanksgiving performance, making it Target’s biggest day for online sales yet,” the retailer said in a recent statement.
On Thanksgiving morning, Target almost sold out on all of its Black Friday doorbusters online. Because of its successful 2015 Black Friday promotion, the retailer saw a 35 percent increase in customers buying items at its stores. According to analysts from SunTrust, Thanksgiving Day shopping in stores and at the malls was a “bust” this year, including in parts of the Northeast and Southeast. That’s probably because more consumers are opting to shop online instead.
“We note that traffic seemed below last year both on- and off-mall. Members of our team who went to the malls first had no problem finding parking or navigating stores. Crowds were tame and, with some exceptions there seemed to be more browsing than buying and less items purchased.”
So, what were the best selling items on the Target website? It turns out that Apple products were the hot ticket items. The record-breaking sales online were driven by the Apple iPad, the Apple Watch, and the Wii U Gaming console, according to the company.
Apple’s latest tablet was a best-seller both online and in-store. One was sold every second on Thanksgiving, according to a Forbes report. The Apple Watch was also a popular choice among both in-store and online shoppers, along with Apple’s Beats Solo 2 headphones being a top-seller both in-store and on the Target website. The headphones were priced at $96.99, down from $199.99.
Here is the top ten best-selling Black Friday items at Target stores, according to the Forbes report.
- Apple iPads
- Apple Watch
- Nintendo Wii U
- 55-inch Westinghouse TV priced at $249.99.
- Movies
- Three-foot teddy bear priced at $10.
- Beats Solo 2 Headphones
- Barbie and Disney Princess dolls.
- LEGO toys.
- Star Wars merchandise
But let’s get back to the mysterious teddy bear that’s surprisingly contributing to some of the record-breaking sales at Target. The company revealed that the three-foot plush toy isn’t usually sold at Target stores, but it was one of those limited edition specials for Black Friday. This special bear was made exclusively from Best Made Toys, and was only available in stores across the nation, not on Target.com.
According to the Star Tribune, Target stores opened at 6 p.m. across the nation on Thanksgiving Day. The bear became one of the first items to sell out within minutes. Customers took to Twitter to share their photos of their cuddly and cute new friend.
The last giant plush bear for $10 is now gone at the Minnetonka Target. #BlackFriday pic.twitter.com/b46q1lXRUB
— Kavita Kumar (@kavitakumar) November 27, 2015
Me: I want a giant teddy bear My mom: get a boyfriend & tell him. Boys: $10 at target tonight only pic.twitter.com/35ilwA07pl
— Nicole Sadler (@nicolesadler_) November 26, 2015
I did not enter this line at Target with a giant teddy bear. pic.twitter.com/nyNfOFIViD
— Chad Bonin (@chadbonin) November 26, 2015
The must have holiday items at @Target – a TV and a GIANT bear pic.twitter.com/wZbkAVXkn0
— Shannon Pettypiece (@spettypi) November 26, 2015
#BlackFriday Grabbing a teddy bear by the nose @target The $10 stuffed animal a very popular item on sale @freep pic.twitter.com/ifslTxyHj4
— Eric Seals (@ericseals) November 27, 2015
Unfortunately, a Target spokesperson revealed that there are no future plans to carry the bears in stores after the Black Friday sale. You may have to wait until Black Friday 2016 to get your hands on one.
Toys and electronics weren’t the only big ticket items at Target. Adele even gave the store a much-needed boost lately, according to CEO Brian Cornell. The retail store is offering a deluxe version of 25 with three exclusive tracks. On Thursday, it was reported in Billboard that Adele’s new album sold 3 million copies in less than five days.
Adele could be giving Target the push it needs around Thanksgiving and Black Friday. There’s no doubt that everyone will buy their friends and family the singer’s new album for Christmas, and Cornell knows that.
“It’s the biggest release we’ve ever had — this is going to break all the records for us. The combination of Adele dropping when it did, the weekend before Thanksgiving, really helped bring in people.”
In the meantime, Target is hoping to stretch out its Black Friday sale into the weekend, and well into Cyber Monday. The company has announced its first-ever 15 percent off site-wide sale on Cyber Monday. There will also be a 75 percent discount on select items, including 50 percent off kids’ cameras and 50 percent of select headphones. Target could very well break the internet again on Cyber Monday.
If you want to catch some of the deals, the stores are open tonight until 11 p.m. Did you shop Target on Thanksgiving or Black Friday? If so, did you shop in store or online? Sound off below in the comments section.
[Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images]
