Black Friday is always the Friday after Thanksgiving. Thousands of shoppers will flock to stores for the season’s cheapest deals. In fact, more than 59% of Americans will engage in an all-night shopping spree in 2014. Many stores rely on this day for the rest of the year. It’s amazing how one day in the year can top the entire sales season (from the Saturday after Black Friday through December 26) by more than $3.8 billion (money.cnn.com). In the past, stores would wait until 6 a.m. on that Friday to open their stores. However, Walmart, Target and many other stores have started opening earlier and earlier, now sales start at 8:00 pm on Thanksgiving. So put on your sneakers and grab a sweater, let’s go shopping!
How to prepare
Preparing for Black Friday is an ordeal that lasts all year. For one thing, it’s highly advisable to carry cash, for small shops, you might be able to discourage them while they’re rushing for money. However, this is the most common time for people to max out their credit cards that will pay off throughout the year. It’s not smart to overbuy just for a deep discount. Go to stores with a set list that you are looking to buy, don’t stray off this list. One should also be prepared for more raucous road rage as customers try to find parking or jostle their way into stores. Many violent acts have been happening in recent years, be prepared. If someone is threatening you over a product you both want, give it to them. It’s not worth getting killed.
So what’s so special about Black Saturday?
The name “Black Friday” was first coined in 1921 in Philadelphia. Since Thanksgiving is the last holiday before Christmas, Black Friday is considered the start of the holiday season. In more than 24 states, Thanksgiving and the day after, Black Friday, are official holidays. That said, given that almost everyone in America has a long weekend, it’s no wonder why corporate businesses would capitalize on it.
On Black Friday and the following Cyber Monday, consumers can take advantage of deep discounts on many of the products that their friends and family request for the holidays. Most of the time, you can get a lot of 2 for 1 deals, or very deep discounts that will disappear after a certain time. This occurrence occurs in the early hours of the morning. Most of the time, families pack up their Thanksgiving dinner, take a nap, and then go stand outside the store for hours.
