ASDA Scrap Black Friday Shopping Warzone

One major supermarket has scrapped their ‘Black Friday’ promotion, saying they have listened to customers who do not like the event.

Last November some shops in Wrexham became a ‘warzone’ as shoppers hunted for a ‘Black Friday’ bargain. Barriers were set up outside some shops to control the crowds, while others queued for hours with many not knowing what they were out to buy.

The concept behind Black Friday began in America in the early 2000s and takes place on the fourth Thursday of November. Over the past few years the event has become known as the start of the Christmas season, with many big retailers – such as Walmart / Asda and Amazon launching big discount sales.

Over the past few year’s the event has began to generate attention in the UK – with many retailers opening throughout the night and offering discounted products.

Last year Black Friday hype hit Wrexham – with many seeing last year’s event as the first time Black Friday deals really took off in the UK.

As Deeside.com spotted this morning ASDA has scrapped their participation in the american inspired event with Asda Chief Executive Clarke saying: “Over the last two years we’ve developed an organised, well-executed plan, but this year customers have told us loud and clear that they don’t want to be held hostage to a day or two of sales.

“With an ever-changing retail landscape, now more than ever we must listen carefully to exactly what our shoppers want and be primed and ready to act the minute their needs change.

“When it comes to putting customers first, Asda has always led the way, which is why we’re just as confident in our decision to step away from Black Friday as we were in introducing it to the UK.”

As Deeside.com observes: “The event has become something of a UK ‘mediafest’ with equal numbers of camera crews and local hacks falling over of frenzied shoppers battling one another for flat-screen TV bargains.”

Generally when one supermarket giant takes the lead others fall in to line behind not wanting to be left out, so it is possible that other ‘black friday’ events will fall by the wayside.

Pic: Shoppers enjoying Black Friday in Wrexham last year.