The term “Black Friday” was always thought of as crowded shopping, rushing to get the best deals and the dedication to waking up before sunrise. In our American society, consumerism and shopping are a massive part of our culture. Black Friday is a tradition that originated in the United States but is now in over 40 countries, including Mexico, Russia, Nigeria, etc. The history of Black Friday has changed tremendously through the decades. The introduction to the internet, a significant player in the evolution of Black Friday, has drastically changed the way we shop and has made global connections more accessible, influencing the phenomenon of shopping on Black Friday.
In 1924, the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade took place with decorative floats, massive balloons, and a lineup of special guests. Santa Claus marked the official start of the holiday season with his joyful presence among them. His presence at the parade encourages families and individuals to embrace the festive spirit and begin their holiday gift shopping. According to Los Angeles Times, “Consumers nationwide will spend 56% of their holiday budget between Black Friday and Cyber Monday”.
Black Friday Begins – 1950’s and 1960’s
The Philadelphia Police introduced the name “Black Friday” after the chaos from holiday shoppers and an annual Army-Navy football game the day after Thanksgiving. The nightmare of traffic jams had become a reality, and they began requesting police officers to regulate the streets and stores. Retail stores soon became worried that the name “Black Friday” would sound very negative and attempted to change it to “Big Friday” for a positive representation. However, the name never became popular because “Black Friday” had already been solidified.
The Upcoming Crowds Throughout The 1970s and 1980s
Black Friday continued to expand throughout the 1970s on a small scale. It did not take flight until the 1980s, when the economy was on an upswing, and the teenage pastime of shopping started to formulate. During this era, new stores and mega malls, a collection of stores in one large building, were created and quickly became popular. This rapid expansion led to the formation of massive crowds and traffic issues. In addition, there were no early access deals; individuals had to wait for a newspaper to be delivered, a large ad explaining what deals people could score. The paper-to-pen experience made Black Friday an even bigger and more exciting event.
Black Friday Really Comes Together In The 1990s
Target and Walmart became very popular. The 1990s really defined the Black Friday deals. According to the International Center for Language Studies, “In 1993, Black Friday officially became the busiest shopping day of the year in the U.S., surpassing Christmas Day. This achievement cemented Black Friday as a crucial date in the retail calendar.” Black Friday was now defined as the “Shopping Day of The Year” that businesses would market around that day. Retailers began competing against each other with their saved best product deals, creating a sense of urgency and excitement for the holiday season.
The Start Of The 2000s
The 2000s Black Friday deals turned into a first come, first serve doorbuster. Individuals would rush early to get this steal of a deal. People lined up at the door during this era, creating a huge line before the stores even opened. This allowed for the first in line to get the best deals on major trending items like TVs, appliances, electronics, and more. Stores started creating events to capture the attention of the buyers, like buy one get one, clearance sales, giveaways, etc. Retailers all followed this plan and participated to attract consumers.
Black Friday Hours Expand In The 2010s
Throughout the 2010s, chaos reached an all-time high. Businesses pushed boundaries, opening earlier than they ever have, including expanding from 4 am to 3 am. Eventually, many retail stores decided it would be very effective if they opened at midnight on a Black Friday morning. Then, finally, retail stores made the decision to start opening on Thanksgiving day, which never happened before in American history. As Danielle Shepherd recalls, “There was a time in American history when you needed a carton of milk on Thanksgiving day, but you were out of luck.” Prior to the 2010s, stores were never open because of the holiday. However, as the years passed, shopping on Black Friday became as important as the holiday itself. As the shopping became more popular and deals escalated, grocery stores wanted in on consumerism, knowing that it was the biggest shopping day of the year. This is how the grocery stores started to become open on Thanksgiving Day.
The Start Of The 2000s
The 2000s Black Friday deals turned into a first come, first serve doorbuster. Individuals would rush early to get this steal of a deal. People lined up at the door during this era, creating a huge line before the stores even opened. This allowed for the first in line to get the best deals on major trending items like TVs, appliances, electronics, and more. Stores started creating events to capture the attention of the buyers, like buy one get one, clearance sales, giveaways, etc. Retailers all followed this plan and participated to attract consumers.
Black Friday Hours Expand In The 2010s
Throughout the 2010s, chaos reached an all-time high. Businesses pushed boundaries, opening earlier than they ever have, including expanding from 4 am to 3 am. Eventually, many retail stores decided it would be very effective if they opened at midnight on a Black Friday morning. Then, finally, retail stores made the decision to start opening on Thanksgiving day, which never happened before in American history. As Danielle Shepherd recalls, “There was a time in American history when you needed a carton of milk on Thanksgiving day, but you were out of luck.” Prior to the 2010s, stores were never open because of the holiday. However, as the years passed, shopping on Black Friday became as important as the holiday itself. As the shopping became more popular and deals escalated, grocery stores wanted in on consumerism, knowing that it was the biggest shopping day of the year. This is how the grocery stores started to become open on Thanksgiving Day.
