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Why Do Black Friday Sales Exist?
It’s the day after Thanksgiving, and people are storming into stores or refreshing online shopping carts like their life depends on it. The frenzy, the rush, the deals too good to miss—Black Friday is not just a sale; it’s a phenomenon. But why does it exist? Who started it? And why do retailers and shoppers go crazy for it every single year? Let’s dive into the story behind Black Friday and uncover its purpose.
The name “Black Friday” sounds ominous, doesn’t it? Like something straight out of a mystery novel. But fun fact: it has nothing to do with doom and gloom. The term was actually coined by police officers in Philadelphia in the 1960s to describe the chaotic traffic jams and crowds of shoppers on the Friday after Thanksgiving. Retailers, however, decided to give the name a positive twist, saying it represented the day they go “in the black” (a.k.a. making profits) after a year of being “in the red.”
The History Behind the Madness
Black Friday didn’t start as the shopping extravaganza we know today. Its roots go back to the early 20th century, when department stores began hosting Thanksgiving parades to attract holiday shoppers. Think Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade—it wasn’t just for fun; it was a clever marketing move to kick off the Christmas shopping season.
