Here’s what SA shoppers are eyeing & buying on Black Friday

It's Black Friday today, marking the start of the festive season shopping frenzy. Traditionally, this day sees long queues outside stores as shoppers rush to grab the best deals. However, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, retailers have adjusted their approach to ensure safety while still offering great discounts. To discuss the Black Friday shopping trends, Katherine Madley, Vice President of Marketing at Game, joined CNBC Africa for an exclusive interview. During the interview, Madley shared insights into how Game stores in South Africa and across 11 other African countries have been faring on this Black Friday. She mentioned that the stores opened early in the morning, with COVID-controlled queues in place to manage the flow of customers. Chairs were provided for the elderly and other vulnerable groups to ensure a safe and comfortable shopping experience. In an effort to avoid overcrowding on a single day, Game extended its Black Friday promotions over a month, trading from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Madley highlighted the importance of providing customers with a relaxed environment to shop and access deals over an extended period. Madley revealed that Game had been planning for this event for 14 months, facing some challenges due to stock constraints caused by factory closures. Despite the constraints, Game managed to secure 160 deals across various product categories, including electronics, TVs, cellular devices, groceries, furniture, camping gear, and more. With approximately 20,000 product lines in a Game store, the Black Friday deals offered customers a wide range of options to choose from. One of the standout deals Madley mentioned was the surge in sales of large TVs. While traditionally, 42 or 55-inch TVs were popular choices, this year, customers showed a strong preference for 65-inch and even 70-inch TVs. The 70-inch R sense TV priced at 12,999 was a hot seller, indicative of people's increased interest in upgrading their home entertainment systems amid the lockdown and COVID-19 restrictions. In discussing the shift towards larger TVs, Madley noted that the trend was likely influenced by the extended time people were spending at home due to lockdown measures. As individuals sought to enhance their home viewing experience, the demand for bigger screens increased significantly. The unexpected surge in sales of 65-inch TVs demonstrated a shift in consumer preferences towards larger, more immersive viewing experiences. Overall, Game stores experienced a successful Black Friday period, with customers eager to take advantage of the diverse range of deals on offer. The extension of promotions over a month and the implementation of safety measures reflected Game's commitment to ensuring a positive and secure shopping experience for all customers. As the festive season shopping continues, retailers like Game are poised to meet the evolving demands of consumers, offering exciting deals and products to enhance the holiday season shopping experience.