Sick of all the hoopla over Black Friday, the day-after-Thanksgiving media frenzy that’s the “official” start of the Christmas shopping season?
A blogger named Chris apparently is and wrote an interesting post about how shameful the media act when they give “free advertising” to the retailers that keep opening their stores earlier and earlier so shoppers can get a jump on all the big sales and buy what they need “while supplies last.”
I disagree. This is a legitimate news story and will continue to be simply because it affects so many people. Any time lots of people gather someplace, and spend lots of money, it’s usually newsworthy.
Some of the Black Friday stories I’ve seen have included valuable consumer tips, from how to avoid crime in places like shopping malls, to tips on how to avoid identity theft.
This year, at least, the strategy of opening earlier and earlier has resulted in a ton of great publicity. My hat’s off to the retailers who were able to capitalize on it. But at some point, this tactic will get old, and they’ll have to think of another trick to lure the TV cameras into their stores.
If you’re a bricks-and-mortar store or an online retailer, you still have plenty of opportunity between now and Christmas to join the media frenzy. Be willing to comment on how your sales are doing, the hottest items that are most in demand, trends you’re seeing, etc.
And don’t forget to pitch the bloggers! Read my article “Let Bloggers Create Publicity for You.”
It’s sad that people like you miss the big picture. News shouldn’t be about massess of people spending money or great shopping tips. It should be about how materialism is damaging to our society. Credit card debt, wants over needs, ignorance of poverty, insidious advertising and marketing. These are social issues of great import. These are relevant and vital stories. Not how many shopaholics denigrated themselves by acting like pigs at a trough post-Thanksgiving.
Please, think about it. You’re a talented lady. Couldn’t you be marketing on behalf of the poor?
Regarding Adrian’s Post:
Indeed, our media fails our society in so many ways it’s unbelievable. It portends poorly for the future. Blame can be allocated to numerous parties.
However Joan Stewart is a “Speaker/Trainer/Consultant.” To my knowledge, she specializes in how to use what exists, not how to reform it. She does not deserve a personal attack with some twisted guilt-trip just because she choses to contribute to society in her current role.
I suggest Joan’s valuable and freely-given techniques may be used to further social reform by those with the passion to do so.