Labor Day weekend typically plays host to a variety of sales. but this year there could be implications beyond summer as retailers aggressively try to clear out inventory in advance of the fall holidays and analysts look for clues in consumer behavior.
In fact, Labor Day discounts could exceed even those on Black Friday.
Labor Day sales may have replaced the back-to-school season as a pre-holiday indicator. As fellow Forbes contributor Paula Rosenblum points out, back-to-school no longer has the impact it once did thanks to several disruptors. Students began returning to school the first week of August in some places, summer weather has been less than accommodating in many parts of the country, and online shopping for school supplies has really changed buying behavior.
Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas now represent retailers’ best hope for ending the year on a positive note.
Sales this weekend are expected to be huge, and cross far more product categories than usual. The traditional home improvement and mattress sales will be joined by blowouts on youth apparel, accessories and electronics and retailers look to clear shelves and stock rooms in advance of seasonal events.
Shoppers would do well to consider taking advantage of the many Labor Day sales, especially those online.
The best online sales began the week before Labor Day and extend through Sept. 2, according to Nextopia which estimates discounts on apparel and accessories at roughly 48 percent off original prices. That is an even steeper discount than those predicted for Black Friday and Cyber Monday, which are expected to be around 42 percent.
