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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Black Friday flurry as UK retailers push discounts | Black Friday flurry as UK retailers push discounts |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A flurry of promotions tied to Black Friday have been causing a frenzy for some UK retailers, with a fight breaking out in one Asda shop apparently over discounted televisions. | A flurry of promotions tied to Black Friday have been causing a frenzy for some UK retailers, with a fight breaking out in one Asda shop apparently over discounted televisions. |
| Asda, owned by the US consumer giant Wal-Mart, has half a million products on offer. | Asda, owned by the US consumer giant Wal-Mart, has half a million products on offer. |
| US shops traditionally offer big discounts on the Friday after the US Thanksgiving holiday. | US shops traditionally offer big discounts on the Friday after the US Thanksgiving holiday. |
| These offers have been increasingly common in the UK in recent years. | These offers have been increasingly common in the UK in recent years. |
| The rush to secure the best deal, however, led to one women ending up in hospital. The ambulance service confirmed that it was called to an incident at a west Belfast shopping centre, where a fight had broken out at an Asda branch. | The rush to secure the best deal, however, led to one women ending up in hospital. The ambulance service confirmed that it was called to an incident at a west Belfast shopping centre, where a fight had broken out at an Asda branch. |
| The woman was taken to hospital with a suspected broken wrist after a scene that was described by one onlooker as "bedlam". | The woman was taken to hospital with a suspected broken wrist after a scene that was described by one onlooker as "bedlam". |
| Several hundred people had queued outside the shop from 5am for the promotion which started three hours later. | Several hundred people had queued outside the shop from 5am for the promotion which started three hours later. |
| There have also been reports of scuffles inside the Asda Superstore at Cribbs Causeway near Bristol, leading to the arrest of a 35 year old man. | There have also been reports of scuffles inside the Asda Superstore at Cribbs Causeway near Bristol, leading to the arrest of a 35 year old man. |
| Asda said that the safety of its customers was of "vital importance", and that it had put in place full security teams and "extra colleagues to help assist customers in the aisles". | Asda said that the safety of its customers was of "vital importance", and that it had put in place full security teams and "extra colleagues to help assist customers in the aisles". |
| Big and small | Big and small |
| Other, UK-owned companies have also tried to emulate what is the busiest shopping day of the year in the US. | Other, UK-owned companies have also tried to emulate what is the busiest shopping day of the year in the US. |
| John Lewis said that it would offer 50% off some electrical items, and 25% off a selection of televisions amongst other promotions. | John Lewis said that it would offer 50% off some electrical items, and 25% off a selection of televisions amongst other promotions. |
| Online retail giant Amazon is also discounting some of its goods on its UK site. | Online retail giant Amazon is also discounting some of its goods on its UK site. |
| However, it is not just the larger chains and department stores that are adopting the opportunity for Black Friday promotions. | However, it is not just the larger chains and department stores that are adopting the opportunity for Black Friday promotions. |
| Maternity brand Isabella Oliver began its Black Friday promotions in the early hours of Friday morning. | |
| The company said that it had seen a 1,200% increase in online traffic by 7am. | The company said that it had seen a 1,200% increase in online traffic by 7am. |
| Stretching budgets | Stretching budgets |
| Retail consultant Caroline Wilde told the BBC that there was a "growing awareness" of the day in the UK, although it was likely to be "an online phenomenon". | Retail consultant Caroline Wilde told the BBC that there was a "growing awareness" of the day in the UK, although it was likely to be "an online phenomenon". |
| "It's very early days for Black Friday," she said, adding that trends do filter through from the US to the UK consumer. | "It's very early days for Black Friday," she said, adding that trends do filter through from the US to the UK consumer. |
| "We've had an American style Halloween in the UK now for over a decade". | "We've had an American style Halloween in the UK now for over a decade". |
| Lou Ellerton, a senior consultant at The Value Engineers, said the day would be especially welcome "in this current economic climate, as families are looking for anything that will make their cash go further". | Lou Ellerton, a senior consultant at The Value Engineers, said the day would be especially welcome "in this current economic climate, as families are looking for anything that will make their cash go further". |
| She said many UK consumers were delaying big purchases in the run up to Christmas to take advantage of these sales promotions. | She said many UK consumers were delaying big purchases in the run up to Christmas to take advantage of these sales promotions. |
| Large crowds | |
| For the first time this year some US shops opened on Thursday, Thanksgiving itself. | |
| The chief executive of department store chain Macy's said that by 8pm on Thursday there were 15,000 people waiting outside its flagship US shop in New York. | |
| It has been controversial for shops to open on Thanksgiving, with some workers' organisations complaining employees would be denied the opportunity to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with their families. | |
| As shopping on Friday got well underway, many US companies were reporting large crowds. | |
| Toys R Us chief merchandising operator Richard Barry said that there were healthy crowds outside its stores. | |
| "It was very steady overall, good crowds, lots of families shopping together," he said. | |
| The National Retail Federation in the US said that it expected retail sales to be up 4% for the last two months of 2013 on the year before, and analysts expect more big discounting from retailers to lure consumers through shop doors. | |
| Another promotion-driven day on 2 December, dubbed Cyber Monday, will see many discounted goods offered online, as companies attempt to boost pre-Christmas revenues further. | |
| Last year, Amazon said that it sold 41 items a second on Cyber Monday. | Last year, Amazon said that it sold 41 items a second on Cyber Monday. |
| In the US, the research firm Comscore said consumers spent $1.5bn (£0.9bn) on Cyber Monday, up 20% from 2011. | In the US, the research firm Comscore said consumers spent $1.5bn (£0.9bn) on Cyber Monday, up 20% from 2011. |
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