Just a few decades ago, Black Friday meant camping out all night— or waking up early in the morning – to score a great deal on the latest technology. For some, the tradition of early morning bargain hunting at brick-and-mortar stores continues today, while others to use their online shopping expertise on the Monday following Thanksgiving, also called Cyber Monday, to get the best deals of the year.
Regardless of your Black Friday/Cyber Monday shopping tradition, it has become an established retail event in the US and has even spread to Canada. However, its actual origins remain unknown to most bargain hunters. Over the years, the events associated with Black Friday has gone through several reinventions before we land where we are today.
The First Black Friday
Contrary to popular thought, the first Black Friday recorded in history did not occur the day after Thanksgiving, but on Friday, September 24, 1869. On that day, two Wall Street capitalists conspired to buy and sell as much gold as they could to manipulate the stock market. As a result, the price of gold plummeted and led to financial devastation that lasted for months.
Black Friday: The 1950’s
Black Friday evolved to describe the influx of fans (and others) traveling to Philadelphia for the Army-Navy game that is held annually on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The massive crowds would become rowdy from the game and looting would ensue, which led to mandatory overtime work for Philadelphia police officers.
Black Friday: The 1980’s
With the rise of megamalls, retailers sought to change how consumers perceived Black Friday. A new version of Black Friday was introduced as the day of the year retailers finally turned a profit —they went from being in the red (owing money) to being in the black (turning a profit). Stores issued special sales flyers, and people lined the streets for reduced pricing deals on the season’s most popular and sought-after gifts. The reinvention of Black Friday — previously known for shoplifting and the stock market crash — transitioned into the Black Friday we know today.
Black Friday: 1990 to 2019
Over the years, stores started to open earlier and earlier until Black Friday sales started on Thanksgiving evening. The desire to get a good deal and consumerism overtook Thanksgiving, a day traditionally meant for people to spend with family and friends. Fed up with losing quality time, a movement soon took off through social media to get back to the true meaning of Thanksgiving.
As a result, many major retail stores pledged to close their doors for Thanksgiving, noting that online sales would remain a lucrative option for bargain hunters who wish to spend time at home. Wal-Mart, Target, and Best Buy remained committed to having Thanksgiving as a day off for their employees.
In 2015, the outdoor retailer REI took it a step further and launched #OptOutside, a paid day off on Black Friday for all employees to spend outside with friends and family to focus on their well-being.
2020: A COVID Black Friday
As retailers feared Covid would derail Black Friday sales, they moved towards bigger online deals and extended their in-store holiday sales to reduce crowds and attract those looking for traditional Black Friday sales. USA Today referred to 2020 Black Friday as the “longest Cyber Monday ever,” as health officials suggested bargain hunters hone their internet shopping skills, skip the crowds, and lower their exposure risk to Covid.
For the first time in nearly a decade, most retailers closed for in-person Thanksgiving Day shopping in 2020. This shift in efforts paid off – Black Friday spending increased by 19% compared to 2019.
Black Friday Today
In 2022, shoppers are facing inflation and rising interest rates while many retailers have an overabundance of goods. Retailers have responded by starting Black Friday events as early as October, hoping that bargain shoppers will start their holiday shopping early. These highly anticipated sales continue into the week of Thanksgiving and through the end of the month.
If you hope to find a Black Friday deal on the perfect MOVA Globe, you are in luck! MOVA Globes has joined with the masses and launched their Black Friday sale early, with a 20% discount on all globes. You can claim the 2022 Black Friday/Cyber Monday discount using the promo code BFCM2022 at checkout.
