Black Friday
Black Friday is a major retail event that takes place on the Friday after Thanksgiving in the United States, which is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. It traditionally marks the beginning of the Christmas shopping season, when shoppers start buying gifts and retailers launch large holiday sales, making it one of the busiest days of the shopping season.
What Is a Black Friday Sale?
A Black Friday sale refers to the discounts and promotions offered by retailers during the Black Friday shopping event. These sales attract shoppers with great deals, limited-time promotions, and heavily advertised doorbuster deals on popular products. In the past, large crowds gathered outside department stores, including famous locations like the Macy’s store, waiting for the doors to open.
Today, many Black Friday promotions focus on online sales, allowing shoppers to find deals from home during Black Friday weekend and Cyber Week.
Popular Black Friday items often include:
- Clothing, accessories, and beauty products
- Tech products such as TVs, laptops, and smartphones
- Home appliances like air fryers and vacuum cleaners
What Is the Origin of Black Friday?
The term Black Friday has a long history that dates back more than a century. One of the earliest uses appeared in 1869, when a financial crisis in the gold market caused a sharp drop in gold prices. However, this event was unrelated to shopping. The modern meaning of the term began in the 1950s in Philadelphia, where Philadelphia police used “Black Friday” to describe the heavy traffic, large crowds, and chaotic conditions that occurred the day after Thanksgiving Day.
In the 1980s, retailers reinterpreted the phrase for marketing purposes. Instead of focusing on the chaos, they promoted the idea that businesses moved from losing money (“in the red”) to making a profit (“in the black”) thanks to strong retail sales during the holiday shopping season. This explanation helped popularize the phrase, and businesses across the country soon started calling the day Black Friday, turning it into the major shopping event known today.
When Is Black Friday Weekend?
Black Friday takes place on the day after Thanksgiving, which means it always falls on a Friday in late November. The event is part of the Thanksgiving weekend, one of the most important retail periods of the year.
The main key dates during this period include:
- Thanksgiving Day – some retailers release early sales or online deals
- Black Friday – the main shopping day with major discounts
- Saturday and Sunday – continued sales and shopping events, like Small Business Saturday
- Cyber Monday – focused on online deals from online retailers
Together, these days form a long promotional period often referred to as Cyber Week.
In recent years, the sales period has expanded significantly. Many shops now start their early deals in early November, creating what is commonly known as Black November. This longer shopping season allows shoppers to spread out purchases and avoid the large crowds traditionally associated with the busiest shopping day.
The Black Friday Shopping Event Today
Today, Black Friday has evolved into a global shopping phenomenon. While it started in the United States, the event is now widely adopted by retailers around the world, even in places where Thanksgiving is not a federal holiday. Countries across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East participate, with many stores offering Black Friday deals both in store and through online shopping.
Many businesses also use Black Friday promotions to strengthen their brand and attract new customers during the holiday shopping season. Custom merchandise such as branded T-shirts, hoodies, and promotional clothing can help companies stand out during sales events, whether through in-store campaigns, online giveaways, or seasonal marketing promotions.
Preparing for Black Friday often starts weeks in advance. Businesses, both major retailers and smaller companies, typically plan early sales, develop promotional campaigns, and ensure they have the right products ready before the Black Friday weekend begins. Branded merchandise and printed apparel can be used for staff uniforms, promotional giveaways, or limited-edition products that help create excitement around a brand.
For smaller retailers and growing brands, custom merchandise can be an effective way to increase visibility and build stronger connections with customers during the busy shopping season. With high-quality custom apparel and promotional products from ICON Printing, businesses can create memorable campaigns that stand out during the competitive holiday sales season and make the most of major retail events like Black Friday.
Frequently Asked Questions About Black Friday
What is actually Black Friday and why does it start the Holiday Shopping Season?
Black Friday is a major global shopping event that takes place on the Friday after Thanksgiving in the United States, which is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. Because of this, Black Friday always falls in late November and marks the start of the holiday shopping season.
Why is Black Friday called Black Friday?
The term Black Friday became popular in the 1950s in Philadelphia, where police used it to describe the heavy traffic and large crowds after Thanksgiving. Later, retailers promoted the idea that the day marked the moment businesses moved from losing money (“in the red”) to making a profit (“in the black”) during the busy holiday sales period.
What is the difference between Black Friday and Cyber Monday?
Black Friday includes both in-store and online shopping deals during the Thanksgiving weekend. Cyber Monday, which takes place the Monday after Black Friday, focuses mainly on online sales from online retailers.
Do Black Friday deals start before the actual day?
Yes. Many retailers now launch early Black Friday deals in early November, creating a longer shopping season often called Black November. These promotions often continue through Black Friday weekend and into Cyber Monday. Planning ahead allows shoppers to compare prices, set a budget, and find the best value before the busiest shopping days arrive.