Why is it called Black Friday?
For millions of people Black Friday is the time to do some serious Christmas shopping. Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving, and it’s one of the major shopping days of the year in the United States; it is however not recognized as an official holiday, but most employees have the day off – except for those working in retail.
The PR Stunt:
The term Black Friday began to be used by retailers to refer to the single day of the year when retail companies finally go into the black (makes a profit) after being “in the red” for much of the year. Ever since the start of the modern Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1924, the Friday after Thanksgiving has been known as the unofficial start to a bustling holiday shopping season.
But of course, there are more theories behind the name.
Why did it become so popular?
Retailers began to notice they could draw big crowds by discounting prices, Black Friday became the day to shop, even better than those last minute Christmas sales. The most shopped for items where and still are electronics and popular toys, as these may be the most drastically discounted. However, prices on everything from home furnishings to clothes also go all the way down.
Black Friday last an entire day with some retail stores opening up earlier in the day as most people wait outside the windows. There a numerous door buster deals and loss leasers – prices so low the store may not make a profit – to entice shoppers. From ad scans, coupons, online, offers, consumers are getting a heads up about what is on sale and plan their purchases. Some companies wait till the last minute to release their Black Friday ads, hoping to create a buzz and keep customers eagerly checking back for an announcement.
However, there is more. There is also websites who have online shopping, which allows you to find what you need without having to go store to store and leaving the comfort of your home. So there you have it – the Black Friday history behind the best shopping day of the year!
