Dive Brief:
- Wal-Mart Stores announced on Tuesday that its Black Friday sales will begin a week earlier than expected, kicking off on Friday, Nov. 22.
- Toys and electronics will be heavily discounted, both online and in physical stores.
Dive Insight:
2013 has already seen a parade of announcements from major retailers including Kmart, Sears, Target, Macy's and J.C. Penney, which have all detailed plans to open stores on Thursday, Nov. 28, a day before traditional Black Friday sales begin. This is the first major announcement we've seen about moving the sale calendar back a whole week, though. Retail competition around the holidays is always fierce, but Wal-Mart may be setting a new bar here.
