It’s the holiday weekend. We know our mystery shoppers are busy with family and holiday traditions, so we’ll just keep this short and fun this week!
Black Friday. We see it advertised in ads and many anticipate this very busy shopping day after our holiday of thanks, as much as they anticipate Thanksgiving itself.
Black Friday traditionally represented the beginning of the holiday shopping season in the United States. Since Thanksgiving falls on the fourth Thursday in November, Black Friday may be as early as the 23rd and as late as the 29th day of November.
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City helped to kick off the holiday shopping season starting in 1924.
Yet the actual term “Black Friday” was not widely used until 1975. This was because a New York Times reporter likened the crowds and heavy traffic to the dark day in American history, Black Tuesday (1929 stock market crash).
Another origin of Black Friday comes from the shift to profitability during the holiday season. Black Friday was when retailers went from being unprofitable, or “in the red,” to being profitable, or “in the black”, at a time when accounting records were kept by hand and red indicated loss and black profit.
In an age of 24/7 shopping with on line sales, the emphasis on one day or a weekend being the difference between red and black has diminished. Some trends of recent years, which included stores opening on Thanksgiving evening, have even started to wane.
Retailers and store owners are recognizing the need for their staff to celebrate the holiday with family to reflect the values of the Thanksgiving. Many are starting their Black Friday sales earlier in November as well.
We are no longer a ‘one day only’ shopping society.
Good luck this holiday season in finding your perfect gift – no matter which day or how you shop!
But do remember, you can increase your savings if you pick up a mystery shop too!
Is Black Friday shopping a tradition of yours? If so, tell us about your experiences!
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