Though the National Retail Federation forecasted growth of 3.6-5.2 per cent in apparel sales during November and December, whether this will be sufficient to offset a downturn in in-person spending in the US remains to be seen. As per Adobe Analytics predictions online sales on Black Friday were to hit a record this year with store closures likely to ease in December.

As per a Business of Fashion report, though most retailers will be able to reopen, they will face certain restrictions in operation hours. Consumers too may not feel confident going to stores as retailers have persuading shoppers to spend as much online as they would in store for months

Many retailers kicked off Black Friday sales early in the hopes of extending the traditional festive shopping frenzy. They also doubled down on e-commerce offering flexible delivery options like curb-side pickups or rewards for consumers who buy early to avoid the Christmas logistics crunch.