Retailers are seeing bigger crowds at America's malls and stores in the wake of chains like Macy's and Target opening their doors at midnight. Toys R Us and a few other stores that opened on Thanksgiving Day are still overflowing with shoppers, reports AP.

Depending how today's retail rally goes, sales at U.S. brick-and-mortar stores may rise 2.8 percent — compared with 5.2 percent last year — to $465.6 billion this holiday season, according to the National Retail Federation estimates. Online revenue, fueled by Cyber Monday, could advance 15 percent to $37.6 billion, according to ComScore.

Black Friday/Cyber Monday isn't just an American phenom, with Canadian retailers getting into the spirit, and brands like Apple offering worldwide sales today. The down side: reports of violence in at least five states, primarily at Walmart stores, including two shootings and a pepper-spraying incident.

It was only a matter of time before Rebecca Black's so-bad-it's-classic smash song Friday was repurposed into a "Black Friday" commercial. Bravo, Kohl's.

But it isn't just a "Rebecca Black Friday" this year — look, guys, it's Justin Bieber for Macy's! And we mean "guys."Continue reading...

The day after Thanksgiving, few are able to digest much. That's why Brandchannel will be serving up its content in bite-sized servings of 140 characters or less. That's right, Black Friday will be Tweeted and retweeted. (Note: Is the retweet to Twitter what leftovers are to Thanksgiving?)

In addition to all of our #blackfriday updates and observations, @brandchannelhub broadcasts regular news from Brandchannel, Brandcameo and more.

So, if you don't already follow Brandchannel on Twitter, then click that clicky today and become one of the thousands of followers we aim to please.

Will it be a happy holiday for recession-weary electronics retailers? IBM is betting on it, forecasting that consumer spending on electronics and appliances will be "larger-than-usual" in November. Pre-holiday sales will hit the ground running according to an analytics-based forecast produced by IBM – and retailers should be prepared.

"The forecast indicates that retailers should be ready for a robust Black Friday and Cyber Monday," said Global Business Services partner and IBM retail analytics leader Michael Haydock. "Retailers that staff up and stock up for November and invest in advertising are likely to have a substantial advantage in the marketplace."

IBM predicts consumer electronics and appliance sales to total $10.164 billion this November, a 4% year over year bump, with $8.688 billion for consumer electronics and $1.476 billion for appliances. Continue reading...

Black Friday rolls on; but the brunt of the "damage" is done with the exciting, "doorbuster" crowd already hobbled by exhuastion and ready to head home and refuel with Thanksgiving leftovers. Even in California it is long after noon. The only early-morning doorbuster sales left to cover? Hawaii.

Media coverage of Black Friday is in mop-up mode, with Tiger Woods' serious, mysterious car accident and hospitalization now the big story of the day. So, which brands are Black Friday winners and which ones and losers?

Wal-Mart: So far, there have been no deaths or maimings or serious problems at Wal-Marts, beyond a couple skirmishes. So, year over year profits aside, the Wal-Mart brand benefits from a 100% year-over-year decline in fatalities. But Wal-Mart appears to have won with shoppers too. Reports of long lines and excited shoppers snapping up Wal-Mart deals have been some of the top headlines all day long. And with, as mentioned, no negative "deaths" news to steal away from the good news (despite the best efforts of some self-righteous journlists). Will we have to wait until Cyber Monday to name a winner in the Wal-Mart/Amazon war? No. They both win. The more the media reports that Amazon and Wal-Mart are trying to beat one another on price, the more consumers are interested in seeing how low they will go; get 'em in the door....Continue reading...

Ah, holiday shopping seasons past. So Mad Men stylish. So lethal. So... gender-roley.

Finally, the reports of a Black Friday fight are coming in. What were the Florida Wal-Mart shoppers fighting over? GPS devices:

"People were gathered at the items they wanted to buy. The customers claim the person at the GPS location, started selling the devices before 5 a.m. and they started a brawl... In Seminole County, another fight at a Walmart ended with three law enforcement agencies responding. According to WKMG, the Seminole County Sheriff's office, Lake Mary Police Department and the Sanford Police Department were all called out to the Walmart around 5 a.m."Continue reading...

Is Black Friday really only for the staid Kohl'ses, Searses and Best Buyses? No. What about the Playboys?Continue reading...