Dive Summary:

• Wal-Mart has announced it will move up the time of its Black Friday sales offers to 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.
• The big box retail giant already opens most of its stores on Thanksgiving but will offer earlier access to sales promotions to remain consistent with the trend set by its competitors this year.
• Wal-Mart will implement sales [promotions in phases – hoping to spread out traffic while enticing some shoppers to remain in-store for sales offered later.

Dive Insight:

"Some other retailers advertise great deals, but may only have a handful of products available, forcing customers to wait outside the store only to leave disappointed. Not at Walmart,” said Wal-Mart CEO Bill Simon. Wal-Mart’s first phase of Black Friday deals will debut at 6 p.m., followed by another phase of separately discounted merchandise at 8 p.m. The system helps Wal-Mart customers receive access to 21 featured sale items which are guaranteed to be in stock during the Black Friday sales event.