Black Friday shopping

Customers to know that US retail, and mall workers do not control pricing, hiring or global supply chains.

"Many angry customers arrive in the morning," said Williams-Sonoma, manager of Crossgate Shopping Center in Albany. N.Y. The convenience store is delaying hours because of a labor shortage.

Most of the stress reactions in the store are pre-orders products. The most customers are doing well, and the inventory situation has improved in recent months.

Walmart Inc. commission said many of its products are in strong demand, and the sector is increasing sales for the holiday season experience. Major retail chains such as Amazon reported strong sales at the start of the season. Retailers and their suppliers are struggling to produce and ship products to meet demand quickly, as supply chain disruptions worldwide and Covid-19 have hampered production and delayed product launches.

Meanwhile, competition for hourly labor has caused labor shortages as more people leave the retail sector, the highest seasonally adjusted monthly record since the Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking it in 2000.

Chief Financial Officer Julie Whalen on last week's conference call with analysts said Williams-Sonoma Inc. the backlog was at a record high. Williams-Sonoma, which owns brands such as Pottery Barn and West Elm as well as tables, furniture and Christmas products, expects sales to grow at least 22 percent this year.

CEO Laura Alber says Williams-Sonoma has "fewer difficulties, cancellations and call centers" because it has fewer serious delays compared to competitors and actively encourages customers to alert them if problems arise.

Gap, Urban Outfitters Inc. and Victoria's Secret Co. and other chain executives, including, said in their latest earnings report that sales were missed because of a lack of stock, which could affect the holiday season.