WBBM Noon Business Hour interviews Bob Phibbs, CEO of The Retail Doctor, about how Black Friday has transformed — from month-long online deals and softer store traffic to younger shoppers treating it as a social event. He explains why in-store experiences and human connections still drive most sales and what retailers must do to win holiday shoppers.

The conversation also touches on tighter budgets, shifting promotions, and why retail stories often mask steady annual sales gains despite noisy headlines about declining foot traffic.