About "Black Friday" and "Cyber Monday

Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving in the United States. It is also the beginning of the Christmas Shopping Season, and since many employees take the day off it is usually a busy day for shops and shopping. Retailers often open early and have special deals for shoppers.
With the recession beginning to show this year it looks like an 'all or nothing' event for retailers. For some of them there is a lot at stake, their survivability depends not only on having the biggest, boldest Black Friday sales they've ever had. They also wish to extend the critical holiday shopping season till far after Christmas.
The bad news is that this could be the worst holiday shopping season on record.
The good news is this time for consumers (shoppers) hunting for bargains, could however be the best time ever. So if you want this huge new flat-screen or the latest gadget, be patient and take a look around.

Retailers on Black Friday, Red or Black?

Cyber Monday immediately follows on Black Friday. It's the beginning of the shopping season in Great Britain.

The sunny side of the slump, consumers get huge retail discounts

In times of a slump in retail sales consumers can get huge discounts at retailers. Very important for the Christmas season! It's the time for Bargain Hunting. Up to the year end and in the first months of 2009 you can expect more discounts and bargains everywhere, from clothing to shoes, handbags and accessories, to phones books and toys, software and computers, to hardware and even cars. Producers, importers, retailers and retain chains can get rid of their surplus stock, and make consumers happy.

From the Wallstreet Journal:The Bright Side: Deep Retailer Discounts
Shoppers can find a bonanza of deals on everything from Prada shoes to premium jeans and smart phones. Discounters like T.J. Maxx and Overstock.com and outlet stores like Saks Fifth Avenue Off Fifth are all stocking some of the best selections of apparel, accessories and electronic goods -- at some of the best prices -- due to the sharp falloff in consumer spending that has forced full-price stores to unload excess inventory.

Selections of high-end jeans from labels such as True Religion, Joe's Jeans and Paper Denim & Cloth.
Overstock.com, an online discounter based in Salt Lake City, will be selling items at 15% to 45% off full retail price for the holidays. Even now a gray crocodile-embossed tote bag from Yves Saint Laurent sells for $1,300 on the site, a discount of 31% from the retail price of about $1,900. Since mid-September, the company has been snapping up high-end apparel, boots, shoes and handbags from brands such as Prada, Gucci and Jimmy Choo that it has never carried before. Its inventory of shoes alone has swelled to 55,000 pairs from fewer than 2,000 before September.
Retail Ventures Inc.'s DSW stores are offering up to 75% off designer shoes from brands like Ralph Lauren and Sergio Rossi, compared with discounts of up to 50% last year, while Loehmann's recently advertised a "big fashion event," with discounts of up to 70% off on apparel from designers, including Nanette Lepore and Marc by Marc Jacobs.