Safety first this Black Friday
Kimberley residents said that they would use the Black Friday specials to purchase Christmas gifts.
BLACK Friday will be different this year as shoppers will be expected to observe strict s ocial distancing and Covid-19 regulations.
Long queues and large crowds of people hunting for bargains will not be permitted inside stores and the capacity of shops will be limited.
Some consumers indicated that they will instead shop online to prevent the risk of Covid-19 infection.
Kimberley residents said that they would use the Black Friday specials to purchase Christmas gifts.
A number of local residents, however, indicated that they would give Black Friday a complete miss as they were struggling to make ends meet due to salary cuts and job losses that were implemented with the Covid-19 lockdown.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant-colonel Dimakatso Mooi reminded the public that the country is still under lockdown Level 1.
“Therefore regulations for this level still apply. According to the regulation businesses are allowed to operate within the normal business hours with strict adherence to health protocols and social distancing measures,” said Mooi.
The Diamond Pavilion Mall will be extending its trading hours for Black Friday, with some stores opening from 7am today for shoppers wishing to avoid the “mad rush”.
Diamond Pavilion Mall general manager Amanda Barra said that in light of Covid-19, Black Friday specials were spread out over the week and throughout the month of November.
“Shoppers will be expected to adhere to all government stipulated regulations and there will be ongoing management by mall staff, security and retailers, with the added support of the SAPS,” said Barra. “The maximum number of people allowed varies from store to store depending on the size of the store, and the stores will be responsible for monitoring this. Some retailers are opening at 7am and will indeed trade later.”
The spokesperson for the North Cape Mall, Leon Gray, added that all Covid-19 precautions and protocols would be followed and monitored by security.
“Each shop will also do their part. We request the public to help restrict the spread of the virus by sticking to the protocols set in place,” said Gray.
He stated that shoppers would be expected to queue outside a shop if the maximum capacity was reached.
“All shops are permitted to stay open later on Black Friday - each store may differ,” he added.
Gray also pointed out that most stores were also promoting online sales to prevent long queues.
Shoppers have also been encouraged to buy local products and support local businesses that have been hard-hit by the coronavirus pandemic.
Proudly South Africa chief executive Eustace Mashimbye said that about R1.1 trillion was spent every year on imported products.
“2020 has been tough and the Covid-induced economic malaise contributed to a 48.9 percent drop in household spending. The festive season’s direct spending could help the hotel, restaurant and recreational sector, where income plunged by 99.9 percent,” said Mashimbye.
He added that if spending was redirected to locally manufactured goods, it would assist local businesses, save jobs and contribute towards the local economy.
“The lack of demand for South African goods and an over reliance on imported items is dragging down local manufacturing. Purchasing locally-made clothing instead of imported items will assist the local textile and clothing industries, in which about six people a day lose their jobs.”
Mashimbye stated that, traditionally, retail sales increased in South African between November and January.
“The drivers of this activity are payments of bonuses and the Black Friday sales campaigns which have now been extended from a once-off event to cover a month or more of discounted sales.”
He indicated that the average spend of South African consumers on Black Friday was about R1 600.
“During the Covid-19 crisis, the focus on buying local increased as ports of entry were closed and the movement of goods and services was restricted. This had the effect of introducing local buyers to the high-quality local options available at retail outlets. If we can make the return to local goods permanent, the whole country will benefit.”