Black Friday has become a full-contact sport for some and a cozy online scroll for others. But how did it all begin? From chaotic crowds to digital domination, the history of Black Friday is filled with twists, turns, and some surprising fun facts. Let’s take a dive into how this day went from post-Thanksgiving lull to global shopping phenomenon.

The Origins of Black Friday: Where It All Began

From Thanksgiving to Shopping Day

Back in the late 19th century, retailers saw Thanksgiving as the perfect launchpad for holiday shopping. Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, first held in 1924, marked the unofficial start of the Christmas season, ushering shoppers into stores the very next day.

What’s in a Name?

The term “Black Friday” wasn’t always about deals — it was about mayhem. In the 1950s, Philadelphia police coined the term to describe the chaotic day after Thanksgiving when suburban shoppers flooded the city for deals and football. Crowds, traffic jams, and exhausted cops — sounds festive, right?

Fast forward to the 1980s, when retailers decided to rebrand the day with a positive spin. “Black Friday” became the day businesses moved “into the black” (a.k.a. profitability). Chaos turned into cash, and the rest is history.

Black Friday Becomes a Shopping Extravaganza

Enter the Doorbusters

By the 1980s and 1990s, retailers upped the ante with jaw-dropping discounts. “Doorbuster deals” were designed to draw crowds before sunrise, often leading to stampedes of determined shoppers. Who needs coffee when you’ve got adrenaline?

Going Global

In the early 2000s, Black Friday’s fame spread beyond the U.S. Countries like the UK, Canada, and even Australia jumped on the bandwagon. While Thanksgiving wasn’t part of the tradition, the universal love of discounts was.

Hello Cyber Monday

By 2005, the rise of e-commerce introduced Cyber Monday, the online sibling of Black Friday. For those of us who prefer shopping in pajamas to camping outside a store, this was a game-changer.

Black Friday Today: Bigger, Longer, Digital-er

It’s Not Just a Day Anymore

“Black Friday” has now morphed into “Black Friday Week” or even “Black November.” With weeks of deals, the intensity of the day has spread out, but the excitement remains. Who doesn’t love an excuse to shop all month long?

Online Is the New Battleground

In 2022, U.S. shoppers spent a record $9 billion online on Black Friday alone. Mobile shopping is driving this trend, with many of us grabbing deals from our phones while still recovering from turkey-induced food comas.

The Critics’ Corner

Not everyone loves the Black Friday frenzy. Some argue it promotes overconsumption and exploitation of workers. In response, campaigns like Small Business Saturday and Giving Tuesday encourage more thoughtful spending and giving back.

Why Black Friday Matters

For retailers, Black Friday is like the Super Bowl of sales—big, dramatic, and incredibly lucrative. It’s their chance to clear inventory, attract new customers, and kickstart the holiday season. For shoppers, it’s a treasure hunt, offering the thrill of snagging a great deal (or three).

Final Thoughts: A Day of Deals and Drama

Black Friday has come a long way from its chaotic origins in Philadelphia to the global shopping powerhouse it is today. It’s a day that blends strategy, excitement, and maybe a little madness. Whether you’re braving the crowds for doorbusters or cozying up with online deals, Black Friday is a cultural phenomenon that’s here to stay.

Want to learn more about holiday shopping trends and how they’re shaping the retail landscape? Check out our latest blogs on Holiday Shopping Trends 2024 and The New Generational Shift in Spending for more insights.

Ready to dive into this year’s holiday shopping trends? Read More Here!

Endnotes:
  1. Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade origins: Macy’s, History of the Parade.
  2. “Black Friday” coined by Philadelphia police: Philadelphia Inquirer archives.
  3. The rise of doorbusters: Retail Dive, Black Friday Marketing Trends.
  4. Cyber Monday’s launch: National Retail Federation, E-commerce Evolution.
  5. 2022 online sales: Statista, Black Friday Online Revenue Statistics.
  6. Small Business Saturday and Giving Tuesday: Forbes, Reimagining Holiday Shopping.