Retailers are stepping up the security and optimizing purchase flow in hopes of improving shopper experiences for the biggest shopping day of the year: the day after Thanksgiving.

• After the death of an employee who was trampled at a Wal-Mart store last year, stores are gearing up for a big day of retail sales and traffic at all locations by applying strategies used by the Super Bowl and the Olympics.
• Wal-Mart for example, will have a customized plan for each store, with a flow for each potential buyer that will hopefully improve sales and reduce accidents.
• Some stores will enforce special rules like, “no running,” and, “wait in line,” but according to experts, anything is possible.

Facts & Figures

• Wal-Mart stores will open on time at either 5 or 6 a.m depending on the store, but customers will have to wait on a line until a salesperson is available to supervise their shopping.
• The National Retail Federation created a comprehensive set of guidelines for crowd control at stores, and say that large markdowns and huge discounts create larger crowds and more chaos.
• Most stores hold dress rehearsals and simulations with their staff in preparation for Black Friday.

Best Quote

“No matter how seamless and airtight you think this [Black Friday] is, the unexpected can happen,” – Ellen Davis, Spokeswoman for the National Retail Federation

Tags: black friday, retail, Thanksgiving, Wal-Mart