Black Friday is a colloquial term for the day after Thanksgiving. In the US, it traditionally marks the beginning of the holiday shopping season. It’s also referred to as Small Business Saturday. Here’s what you need to know about the event. It’s the day that retail stores offer the best deals of the year.
Cyber Monday
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are two of the biggest shopping days of the year. Both are synonymous with huge discounts on merchandise, but Black Friday has historically been a brick-and-mortar event. Cyber Monday, on the other hand, is an online shopping phenomenon that is taking advantage of the same holiday sales as Black Friday.
Cyber Monday originated in the United States and has since become a global phenomenon, with many e-commerce companies taking advantage of it. There are various theories for how the two days evolved, but one theory is that people would wait until Monday to make purchases on the Internet. This was true in the early years of the 20th century, when high-speed Internet options were limited and phones were not yet available.
As the number of online shoppers increases every year, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are no longer solely in-store events. In fact, many merchants have begun extending their in-store Black Friday deals to their online stores. Moreover, retailers aren’t limited to only one day, and Cyber Monday deals can begin as early as October.
Small Business Saturday
There are many ways to promote your small business during the Thanksgiving week. You can start advertising early and offer specials to get customers in your door. Another way is to participate in Small Business Saturday, an annual event with plenty of free swag. This way, your business can stand out from the giant corporations that dominate the Black Friday messaging.
You can also promote your small business by promoting your social media accounts. This way, you can build your customer list and expand your marketing efforts. For example, you can encourage your customers to connect with you via social media or email. This way, you can reach out to them and show them how much you appreciate their support.
You can also visit local businesses to buy unique gifts. Some local businesses have unique gift items, such as handmade jewelry. In addition, you can find special deals at local stores. You can even promote Small Business Saturday on social media!
Pre-Black Friday sales
Many stores offer pre-Black Friday sales, which start months before Black Friday. For example, Walmart launches its Deals For Days event on Nov. 3 and offers great deals on top brands. Target, on the other hand, begins its pre-Black Friday Holiday Best Deals on Oct. 31. Amazon has also started pre-Black Friday sales, which run throughout the holiday season.
Pre-Black Friday sales are beneficial for both retailers and consumers. Every business owner must remember that customer satisfaction is an important goal, as many consumers have limited disposable income and compare prices all year round. For this reason, retailers are extending their hours and offering special sales. Some of these special sales include extended credit terms and price promotions.
While Black Friday is the unofficial start of the Christmas shopping season, many employers are giving their employees Thanksgiving holiday week-end off so they can take advantage of these sales. Most retailers offer a wide variety of specials, including limited-edition “doorbuster” items. While historically, Black Friday sales continued through the following week-end, this practice has declined in recent years.
Nordstrom isn’t offering daily sales, but select items are discounted. You can get great deals on bags, boots, and outerwear. Although you won’t save a lot on a $20 t-shirt, you can score a fantastic deal on a pair of buttery soft boots, or a dream designer bag for under $300.
Online shopping
Black Friday is a major shopping day and the deals can be amazing. You can save big on home items, electronics, games and more. You can use apps like Smarty to compare prices and get cashback on purchases. There are many sales for technology, including virtual reality headsets and gaming consoles. You can even save money on luxury goods.
Many people enjoy the convenience of online shopping. It saves them time from having to stand in long lines and squeeze through a crowd. Oftentimes, online stores have Black Friday deals that you won’t find at brick-and-mortar stores. Plus, you can pre-order items so you can get them the moment they come out.
Online retailers must make it easy for shoppers to navigate through the site. Using search terms and relevant keywords will help them find products they are looking for. Use high-quality images to draw in visitors. Social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter can be great tools for attracting shoppers. The more options you have, the better.
Smartphones are another great tool for online shoppers. More people are using smartphones to shop. This means that mobile devices will become a vital part of the shopping experience.
Angry mobs fighting over TVs at Walmart
This year’s Black Friday was characterized by angry mobs fighting over televisions at Walmart. In a video posted to YouTube, an angry mob fights over a Samsung television that is marked down to $218. The video shows that the televisions had been out for only a few hours, and customers had come in droves to get them. As the televisions sold out, the mob became increasingly violent, and police were called to intervene.
The fight began in the aisles of Walmart, where people tried to grab the TVs by lying on top of them and wrestling each other. Eventually, police were called in and sorted out the situation. The store also employed off-duty police to provide additional security.
The Walmart video of the tuss has gone viral, with the video showing two women fighting over a flat screen television. The fights escalated until a woman was arrested and a man was arrested for screaming vulgarities at a woman. The video was captured by Bronx actor Brian Spain, who had gone to Walmart to interview people about their Thanksgiving shopping experiences. The Walmart workers threatened to kick him out of the store and arrest him for trespassing.
Online shopping attracts anti-consumer backlash
Online shopping on Black Friday has been a subject of anti-consumer backlash for years. Many retailers are shutting down on this day, and some are taking it even further. Some retailers, such as REI, have even announced they will no longer be open on Thanksgiving. Despite the backlash against online shopping on Black Friday, there are still some ways to make your shopping experience better.
One way to protest against the anti-consumer backlash on Black Friday is by buying nothing. Some people will walk aimlessly through malls or sit in retailer dressing rooms. Others will perform strange behaviors or engage in performance art. In some cases, these people will gather with other anti-consumer groups, such as the ‘zombie walk.’
Another way to fight back against the anti-consumer backlash on Black Friday is to buy from companies that promote social and environmental responsibility. A recent report by the Green Alliance revealed that more than 80 percent of all Black Friday purchases are thrown away shortly after they are made.
Origin of Black Friday
The origin of the term “Black Friday” is a bit murky. Some claim it stems from a violent conflict during the 1950s. Others believe it comes from a recent economic slump. Either way, the word is infamous and it has been in circulation for nearly two decades. This article will look at some of the different theories about the origin of the term.
The first recorded use of the term “Black Friday” was not in reference to the holiday shopping season. Instead, it relates to a financial crisis. In September 1869, a group of Wall Street financiers conspired to corner the gold market in an effort to drive the price sky high and then sell it for huge profits. However, President Ulysses S. Grant intervened to put an end to this plot, and the stock market crashed.
The first Black Friday occurred on Sep. 24, 1869, in Philadelphia. While Philadelphia merchants were complaining about the sales, many eastern Pennsylvania retailers had never heard of the holiday. Nonetheless, the term gained popularity and spread throughout the country as the day of the year when stores slashed prices and turned a profit. Although the term was rarely used in the 1990s, its use in the media grew dramatically in 2004-05.
