After 40 years at Montana mall, manager prepares to say goodbye

Dec 5, 2024
The Butte Plaza Mall is in its last holiday shopping season before new owners take over. "It's time to change," says manager Alana Ferko.
On Black Friday, "everybody hit their numbers," said Butte Plaza Mall manager Alana Ferko. New owners plan to make substantial changes at the property.
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Black Friday deals hitting your inbox already? You're not alone.

Nov 4, 2024
We're barely out of Halloween, yet retailers are keen to get the holiday shopping season started.
Earlier Black Friday deals this year are partially in response to potential port strikes and partially go back to pandemic supply chain snarls.
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How will traditional holiday sales days fare this year?

Nov 29, 2021
Consumers appear to be spreading their holiday spending across more days, heeding advice to get their orders in early.
New data shows that in-store sales on this year's Black Friday were down compared with pre-pandemic levels. Above, the festive Galleria mall in Houston on Black Friday.
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Do you really need to do holiday shopping early?

Nov 1, 2021
Retailers have their own reasons to get people to do their holiday shopping early. It's not all supply chain.
People wearing protective masks walk by holiday windows in New York City.
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Supply chain and labor shortage concerns lead to earlier start for Black Friday deals

Oct 19, 2021
Some retailers are even starting their Black Friday deals today.
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Retailers' holiday sales strategy this year? Fewer, smaller sales

Dec 7, 2020
They're trying to make a profit selling less stuff, but holding the line on prices.
A pedestrian walks past a store advertising a Black Friday sale in New York.
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How small stores are cutting through the noise from the big-box stores this season

Nov 26, 2020
Personal touches, virtual community events and free shipping can go a long way.
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For public good, not for profit.

As e-commerce booms, U.S. ports face traffic jams

Nov 23, 2020
A federal commission is investigating.
Containers are offloaded from a ship at the Port of Los Angeles, the nation's busiest.
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What will Black Friday be like this year?

Oct 14, 2020
Shopping in crowded stores on Thanksgiving or the day after, Black Friday, is on the CDC's list of high-risk activities for the fall holidays.
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COVID-19 holiday creep is already here

Oct 12, 2020
Holiday shopping is early and mostly online this year, experts say. Avoiding supply-chain delays is part of the reason.
Consumers return to retail shopping at the a mall in Glendale, Arizona, in June. Holiday shopping will be mostly online this year due to the pandemic.
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