There is an evolution under way in Bermuda retail, and the Black Friday shopping season is a clear sign of the changes.

The wide-scale predawn dash for bargains on Friday appears to largely be over.

Numerous reasons exist, according to retailers The Royal Gazette spoke to. They have seen one setback after another over the years, going back to the post-2008 economic crisis that left fewer people with disposable income.

Bermudians and work permit holders left the island, shrinking the Government’s tax base as well as retail.

Asked how stores have been able to stay afloat over the intervening years, Shawn Grant, vice-president of retail operations and merchandising at Masters Home Centre, conceded: “That is the million-dollar question. It really is.”

Masters has been a trading house, in one form or another, since the 1840s. This year, Black Friday includes a 20 per cent all-day, store-wide sale.

But in recent years, merchants on the island have faced one challenge after another. The 2008 crisis led to a long recession, finally said to be over in 2015. A protracted recovery included a shrunken economy,a downturn in tourism, the closure of two of the largest hotel properties, and slow jobs growth.

Mr Grant noted how times have changed: “Post-Covid, people became more strategic in terms of how they spend their money. People are very cost-conscious because of the economy.

“Covid led to supply-chain issues that drove prices higher. It forced us to look at other ways of getting merchandise without sacrificing quality.

“The tariffs that Trump has put in place have made it extremely difficult to get the same products at the same price.

“It is not about us reacting to the tariffs, it's the vendors … the overseas vendors. They are being hit with the effects of these tariffs and they just won’t absorb the costs. That makes it difficult when those costs are passed along. We have had to get creative in looking at different vendors.”

It has all had an effect on Black Friday in Bermuda.

“We have consistently offered the same discounts year in and year out. Our customers normally know what we are going to do. There are some surprise bargains we offer, but we won’t advertise them. We normally give 20 per cent off all day and allow people to come in whenever they have the time.

“We don’t see the Black Friday lines at 4am like we used to. One or two companies will have sales in the days leading up to Black Friday. But for a number of reasons, the numbers are just not there for the way it used to be.

“People also have left the island, and retailers now have to be more creative to get people into the stores.

“It is not something Masters has discussed yet, but I think more companies will probably start moving towards having sales for the entire Black Friday week.”

People’s Pharmacy will also offer a conservative approach to the once-heralded shopping period. There will be a 40 per cent sale in the toys and baby department on Friday for three hours until 7pm, while the store extends shopping for an additional hour.

It begins a period of sale activity through to Christmas, Chamie Smith, of the pharmacy, said. “Its a kick-off event for us into the holiday season.”

Aircare Ltd’s Black Friday sales last until the end of November, including deep discounts on eligible smoke detectors and portable air purification units.

Roberta Munden, of Boho Couture in St George, said she has seen “some people shopping for the holidays this week”, especially because her holiday pieces are limited runs — “one or two per style”, which encourages early buying. But she added that many customers seem happy to wait for slower-paced, social events rather than rush through Black Friday. She is offering a 60 per cent off rack on Friday, as well as 50 per cent off straw bags and 25 per cent discounts on other collections.

Her Saturday shopping evening, held to coincide with the lighting of the Olde Towne, is already drawing interest: “I think people like these types of events,” she said. “Social and shopping go well together.”

BermudAir is offering a 40 per cent discount on base fares booked from November 25 to 30, for travel to American gateways and Anguilla, making flights more affordable for residents and visitors through May 26 next year.