Walmart, Lowe’s have announced Black Friday plans: Here’s how the holiday shopping season is different amid COVID-19

Kiss Black Friday in-store doorbusters goodbye.

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, the hottest deals this holiday shopping season will be available online to reduce crowds and to eliminate the need to rush into a store.

The sales also are starting earlier than in past years and lasting longer to spread out demand in a season retailers say is unlike any other they have experienced.

Experts say it’s critical for retailers to start the season early as consumers will be faced with restrictions on how many can be in a store at a time and concerns about online orders not arriving on time.

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention classified “shopping at crowded stores just before, on or after Thanksgiving” on a list of higher-risk activities to avoid and in guidance issued ahead of the fall holidays also suggest more online shopping. 

Neil Saunders, managing director of the retail consultancy Global Data, said the idea of any retailer driving crowds of people into their stores is a “non-starter.”

“No retailer can run the risk of overcrowding, and so all will be looking to balance the need to drive sales with the need to keep people safe,” Saunders said.

Walmart unveiled last week how it will revamp its Black Friday sale by offering shoppers three chances to get the “best prices of the season” in November.

Scott McCall, Walmart U.S. executive vice president and chief merchandising officer, said in a recent interview with USA TODAY that more online offers makes for a “safer and more convenient way to shop” and helps manage in-store traffic.

“The doorbuster deals will be online, but we’re also going to have great prices in-store,” McCall said.

Lowe’s starts its new “Season of Savings” sale Oct. 22 and through Dec. 2 the home improvement chain will offer daily online deals.

“When it comes to going into the physical stores, we are not going to create a situation where there is a time sensitivity that would create crowd situations,” Marisa Thalberg, Lowe’s executive vice president, chief brand and marketing officer, told USA TODAY. “That is irresponsible in our current environment.”

According to a holiday survey from Affirm taken by 2,000 Americans, 7 in 10 respondents said they’re more likely to buy something on sale now, rather than waiting for the traditional Black Friday or Cyber Monday sales.

Announcements about the different holiday season started rolling out in July when Walmart was first to announce stores would be closed on Thanksgiving for the first time since the late 1980s. Target, Best Buy and Dick’s Sporting Goods quickly followed suit by announcing stores would stay closed on the holiday.