The History of Black Friday

If you ask anyone which is the biggest shopping day of the year, many will say ‘Black Friday‘. Indeed, Black Friday is known as the most popular and the largest sales or shopping day, globally. With many stores having their best sales on Black Friday, this is a day not to be missed. 

• But what exactly is Black Friday and where does the term come from?
• Which countries take part in Black Friday?
• When is Black Friday?
• What will Black Friday 2020 look like?
• Why should you take part in Black Friday?

But what exactly is Black Friday and where does the term come from?

Black Friday dates to Philadelphia in the 1950s. Police first used this term to describe the hordes of people on the streets doing shopping on the day after Thanksgiving. Stores would sell products at discounts to get rid of stock that did not sell before the holiday. Many people also did their shopping in bulk on this day to prepare for the big Army-Navy football game held on that Saturday every year. In the 1960s, many people were already familiar with this term and even tried to change it to ‘Big Friday’, but it was, unfortunately, unsuccessful. Today, this day is still known as ‘Black Friday’ and it has become hugely popular with people around the world.

Which countries take part in Black Friday?

Though Black Friday originated in the United States, countries around the world have adopted the activities on this day. Even in South Africa popular retailers take part in Black Friday and offer massive discounts on their products. 

When is Black Friday?

This year, Black Friday is on the 27th of November 2020. Many stores are already advertising their low prices and amazing promotions. 

What will Black Friday 2020 look like?

Because of the worldwide pandemic, there may an increase in online shopping activities. Many people will try to avoid stores and malls as a result of the social distancing guidelines. This can lead to high traffic volumes on retailers’ websites. Therefore, it is best to start shopping early, before the sites become overloaded. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has also had a negative effect on many shoppers’ pockets. Retailers are aware of this and it is predicted that this year’s Black Friday will see stores lowering their prices even more to accommodate the lower budgets of shoppers. However, this can also lead to a bigger percentage of people shopping on Black Friday, as they hunt for specials and lower prices on essential goods. It is, therefore, important to plan carefully before you shop, to ensure you get the best deals before the influx of shoppers. 

Why should you take part in Black Friday?

Black Friday is a dream for any shopper. This is the one day that you may find items on sale that have been way too expensive during the rest of the year. Many shoppers get up very early on this day to skip the queues, however, many stores still sell out in just minutes. So, how can you make sure you get the best of this year’s Black Friday? Browse around online for your favourite stores’ catalogues and make notes of the items you want to buy. This way, you’ll be prepared. It’s also a good idea to shop online to skip the rush in malls and shops. Doing this, you’ll find what you want from the comfort of your home.