Target to use Black Friday 2011 Queuing System to Increase Safety

Instead of the typical uncontrolled mob scene normally seen at retailers on Black Friday, Target plans a more controlled, less dangerous atmosphere on Black Friday 2011.

Black Friday 2011 is Nov. 25, the day after Thanksgiving, and all Black Fridays have the label as "the biggest retail shopping day of the year," at least for brick-and-mortar stores. As retailers, both online and offline, offer incredible deals on that deal, it always attracts huge crowds, and sometimes that leads to danger. This year, Target is ensuring that doorbuster deals won't result in trampling of patrons or Target employees.

On Black Friday 2011, Target stores with large crowds will allow only about 30 people in at a time, adding a new "group" every 15 to 20 seconds, according to Antoine LaFromboise, a corporate spokesman for Target in Minneapolis. "We think this will be good for our guests and give them the room they need," he said.

We assume by room, he means room to avoid being pushed out the way or stepped on. That said, there will probably be plenty of jostling outside the store as people try to crowd through the doors to get in the store quickly and get their hands on a doorbuster of their choice. A doorbuster item is one that's put at such a low price, but in such low quantity, that customers "want to bust down the doors" to get them.

Target, is the nation's second-largest retailer by sales (you can probably guess the nation's largest retailer by sales).

Safety has become a prime issue at stores like Target, or that other unnamed store, namely Walmart. In 2008, a 34-year-old Walmart employee, Jdimytai Damour was trampled to death as shoppers attempting to enter Valley Stream, New York Walmart on Black Friday pushed him to the ground. he died soon afterward.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) eventually fined Walmart in the Black Friday 2008 incident. While the fine was only $7,000, Walmart spent millions fighting the decision, fearing it would set a precedent.

While Target was not involved in the event, and while LaFromboise said no specific incident prompted the change in Black Friday 2011 policy at Target stores, he did add that the company is always "addressing everything they can to ensure a safe environment."

LaFromboise said the choice of using the policy is up to the individual Target stores. They will decide, based on the lines outside the store, and the demeanor of the shoppers. However, he added that it is likely that all Target stores will use the new system.

Image Source: Wikimedia Commons

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