By Tolulope Adeagbo, Madelyn Todd, Samaha Subah and Christina Wildman
As Black Friday approaches, the spotlight turns to the retail stores set to capitalize on the customer’s extravaganza. While many stores are fighting to be seen, some have learned the art of controlling the crowds.
For some years, retail experts have watched and analyzed the revenue of Black Friday, and this year promises to be no different. On top of the list is online retail store Amazon, known for its amazing products and aggressive discounts. Individuals suggest that Amazon’s great planning and pricing have put them in the position for another blockbuster year.
Not far behind is Walmart, the retail giant with a strong presence in the retail game. It’s gearing up for a Black Friday wild shopping spree in-store and online. Walmart is known for their deals and in-person shopping experience, Walmart tends to bring in tempted customers with discounts on everything from on the rack and in their cart.
During the thanksgiving holiday, Amazon and Walmart have pushed out their campaigns and promotions so that shoppers can prepare themselves for Black Friday. The competition among these retailers along with other retailers is tough.
As customers patiently wait for the midnight door to open and the sales to push on, everyone is watching these retailers to see who will make the most money this holiday. Only one can take the crown as Black Friday’s top seller.
How Black Friday came to be
Every year we all look forward to getting amazing deals at our favorite stores the day after Thanksgiving, but when and why did this tradition begin? The day after Thanksgiving, commonly referred to as “Black Friday” across the United States, did not always describe a day of deals after Thanksgiving. It is widely believed that the origin of the phrase “Black Friday” describes the idea that companies are “in the red,” or operating at a loss, until the day after Thanksgiving, when huge sales enable them to finally turn a profit, or put them “in the black.” Unfortunately, this is untrue.
The term “Black Friday” originally described the financial crisis of 1869, when the market collapsed after an inflation of gold. Ever since, the term “Black Friday” has been used to refer to other unfortunate occurrences. The origin of “Black Friday” referring to a shopping spree the day after Thanksgiving was in the 1950s when Philadelphia police became frustrated with a surge of people visiting the city to shop, calling the day “Black Friday” because they had to manage crowds. From then on, the phrase was used to refer to shopping on that particular day, and its use grew yearly.
The national acceptance of the phrase “Black Friday” to denote a spike in retail sales did not occur until the late 1980s, when retailers began to disseminate the red-to-black profit narrative. Black Friday was known as the biggest shopping day in the US and the day those stores generated a profit for the year. However, the Saturday before Christmas is when most stores saw the biggest sales.
These days, other shopping holidays have become popular and are encouraging shoppers to visit local stores, use online websites to shop, and encourage donations to charities. But, Black Friday remains the most popular as shoppers continue to show up every year to stand in long lines and wait for entry into their favorite stores.
The mayhem of Black Friday
It is that time of year again when people are bombarded with an explosion of deals from thousands of brands. It’s a much-awaited time for both brand owners as well as customers. While brands take full advantage of this opportunity to boost sales, customers up prepare for the frenzy this event will bring.
There are several reasons why people seem to go crazy on Black Friday. It’s a day known for significant discounts and people are attracted to the idea of getting their wanted items at a much lower price, which creates a sense of urgency and excitement. Some stores have limited inventory for products on sale. The scarcity creates a frenzy among shoppers which can sometimes lead to erratic behavior.
Over the years, Black Friday has become a cultural phenomenon in some countries. The idea of spending the day with friends and family also adds more to the excitement. Social media exposes us to intense advertisement which can create pressure for customers to keep up with the good deals and not miss out on any bargains.
The excitement, coupled with the need to secure desired goods can lead aggressive behavior such as pushing, shoving or even fighting at the physical store locations. There have been many reported incidents of such troublesome behavior.
Thankfully, the advancement of E-commerce websites has helped to ease these situations. Customers can snatch the best deals from the comfort of their homes, without the getting involved in the chaos and fighting. Brands use their social media and other platforms to reach a more vast range of customers. This option is a great benefit for both parties.
The life of a retail employee on Black Friday
Black Friday, happening next week on November 24, is an important day for companies and consumers- and a crazy day for retail employees.
Some retail employees may refer to Black Friday as the most chaotic day of the year. The struggle to keep up with customers. The constant need to refold clothes that were messed up. Running around the store. Breaking up fights between customers arguing over who gets the new PlayStation Five- USF Student Danielle Lacey knows this all too well.
“I worked on Black Friday for 12 hours with only one break. Safe to say it was terrible,” said Lacey. “I was extremely tired and I remember getting off and barely being able to drive home because of how bad my feet hurt.”
Some retail employees look forward to working on Black Friday all year. You probably imagined it to be horrible- dealing with the crowds, the fighting, the angry customers- however, the companies earn really good profit and are able to get products completely out of the store that they otherwise wouldn’t have. In 2022, it’s estimated by Adobe that Black Friday totaled around $9.12 billion
“I’m happy that the company I work for makes a lot of profit,” said Lacey. “But it’s important to remember that us employees are human.”
When Lacey worked on Black Friday, she was faced with angry costumers the day after Thanksgiving- it’s important to her and other employees that they are treated with kindness. Lacey often remembers the times when customers treated her well on Black Friday.
“I remember when a lady thanked me for being so patient and kind with her,” said Lacey. “It really made my day among the chaos.”