Black Friday, Cyber Monday, what’s next?

Marketers pay close attention to black Friday and cyber Monday sales levels to get a sense of how the holiday shopping season will turn out.  The early returns suggest that both Black Friday and Cyber Monday were very successful, with sales up 20% from last year at the same time.  

Pundits feel the promotions and deals are jump starting the ailing economy.  However, the other interesting story is how consumer shopping patterns are being altered by new technologies and aggressive marketing tactics.

It seems to me that every year the Christmas marketing effort starts earlier.    This year the malls were starting to decorate before Halloween. 

The start times for Black Friday are being rolled back.  The early 5 am times seem late compared to the 3 am start times.   This year marketers are encroaching upon Thanksgiving, for those who can’t wait until Friday.

Cyber Monday sales have increased each subsequent year since it started in 2005.   This year Cyber Monday sales now eclipse black Friday sales.

Now cyber Monday is making room for cyber Saturday and Sunday.  In addition, online discounts and deals are planed after cyber Monday.   “Cyber Monday discounts on regular Tuesday” is the new tagline in the email headers.

Moreover, this year social media, email, smart phone apps, 4-square, SMS services are being used to announce sales or deliver coupons.

Clearly there is a lot of pressure to shop!

We succumb

The multiple media channels announcing black Friday sales prompted a discussion in our house, questioning whether we should venture out on Black Friday.   My wife never had done the early morning trek to the mall.  I had, about a decade ago and have fond memories of arm wrestling with another shopper who happened to grab one of the deeply discounted DVD players on sale.  With some trepidation, we made plans to go out early.

Well, 9:30 is not early, but we were mixing it up at Dick’s sporting goods with the crowds.  I am surprised how seductive the advertising was when we walked in.  Wow, kayaks for only $159—I started contemplating whether I wanted this item that was nowhere in my consciousness until I saw someone carry one out and then noticed the price.

I focused on our shopping list and found a Black Friday discounted outdoor fire pit that would be perfect for my sister.   My wife found many yoga outfits that I could give her for Christmas.    

We braved the long checkout lines, and felt that we had enough Black Friday. 

Back home, we learned that my sister had self-gifted herself an outdoor fire pit the week prior.  Looks like the Black Friday savings will end up to be an extra trip to the mall.  And, as a substitute, we will get her an online gift card from whatever Cyber holiday marketers offer us in the near future.

Do you feel the holiday season is over extended?

Are you seduced by the marketing efforts?

Are you transferring more of your shopping to online?

How much should a pumpkin pie cost?

How much should a pumpkin pie cost?  This was the question that my wife and I debated and discussed with the help of willing taste testers over the holiday weekend.   The discussion began when she picked up a pumpkin  pie at our local CSA.  While paying for it I was told it would be $12.50.  I was surprised at the cost and announced, “wow, this seems expensive. Stop and Shop sells pies for $5.”   My naivety was silently dismissed by the cashier, and I was informed by my wife that the ingredients were much better.  Moreover the reference point should have been Akins, or Whole foods, both have bakeshops that use good quality [fresh-healthy] ingredients. [Subsequent research found other quality bakeshops to have cheaper pies::  atkins $11, whole foods $9.99, and trader joes $4.99.]

Admittedly, the CSA did provide organically grown pumpkins and the unknown baker of the pies most likely must have used these pumpkins.  The ingredients listed on the homemade packaging sound reasonable.  Yet, there was no experience or branding with the pie.  I had never tried the pie previously, and with an important dessert such as thanksgiving I wasn’t sure if I wanted to take a risk.   Why not pay less and get a pie we know would taste good?

How difficult or expensive is it to make a pumpkin pie?  Pies after all are the “common man’s food.”  A little internet research indicates that some of the first pumpkin pies in plimoth MA (1661) consisted of pumpkin, honey, milk, and spices in a pumpkin shell cooked on ashes.  A 1796 American cookbook [American cookery, by an American orphan by Amelia Simmons] featured recipes similar to what we buy in our stores:  One quart of milk, 1 pint pompkin, 4 eggs, molasses, allspice and ginger in a crust, bake 1 hour.

Besides debating the quality of the ingredients and recipes, we discussed economies of scale, treatment of employees, importance of buying local, the cost of branding,  carbon footprint of driving to different stores and so forth.   A very interesting discussion, but no answers were found. 

In the end, we decided to have relatives participate in a blind taste test.  Trader Joes $4.99 vs. the CSA $12.50.  This way we got to have twice as many pies.

The CSA pie was very good.  All relatives preferred this one.  (Incidentally, both pies were finished quickly).   

Still, one could question whether the 150% higher price was warranted?  The taste in my opinion was 150% better.   So, many of the other considerations such as locally sourcing and fair wages are somewhat moot, and are an added bonus.

With all this in mind, I do know that we will likely buy the same pie next year and will not be buying the Neimen Marcus pumpkin pie for $50, even though they include free shipping.

What is the most you have paid for a pie?  What factors besides price and taste do you consider?

For my wife's perspective on this issue click here.