The Black Friday origins (at least as we have known the days since the 1980’s) were huge. The stores were abuzz and the media was all over it.
I remember shopping with my mom and grandma the day after Thanksgiving. Back then it wasn’t a mob scene and you didn’t have to get up and start waiting in line at 6 AM. How times have changed…
In my memory, Black Friday was created because retail stores – both chain and local – were going bankrupt. They needed to find a way to keep them afloat. Enter Black Friday.
The marketing ploy worked like a charm and became one of my favorites of all time…but it wasn’t the first instance of a Black Friday. Fascinated by the phenomenon, I dug into the history and this is what I found.
What’s the Black Friday origin story?
The color black has often been used in front of historically bad days. The Great Depression began after the stock market crash of 1929. The day was referred to as Black Tuesday. In more recent times, we’ve seen the chaos that ensued after Black Monday, the stock market crash of 1987. The first recorded use of the phrase Black Friday comes from the crash of the US gold market on Friday, September 24, 1869.
In a more positive light, retailers began referring to the day after Thanksgiving as Black Friday as it was typically the first day of the year that their earnings went from red (profit losses) into black (sales profits). This was a result of so many going out to do their holiday shopping the day following Thanksgiving.
What’s Philadelphia got to do with it?
It’s Philadelphia tradition to host the Army vs. Navy football game each year on the Saturday following Thanksgiving. This meant that the city saw an influx of tourists and shoppers each year on the day after Thanksgiving. Chaos ensued. So much so that there was a yearly spike in traffic and crime, particularly shoplifting.
As the one day a year they were not allowed to call in sick, Philadelphia cops in the 1950s were the first to dub the day after Thanksgiving Black Friday.
How did it catch on?
From the 1950s through the mid-80s, using the term Black Friday in reference to the day after Thanksgiving was pretty exclusive to Philadelphia and its surrounding areas.
At some point in the late 80s, retailers from across the country began to use the term in conjunction with their post-Thanksgiving holiday sales.
At that time, just about all stores were closed on Thanksgiving. Even convenience stores. So, they reopened the day after Thanksgiving with their biggest holiday sales posted and ready for crowds.
What’s changed and why?
Since the 80s, that one-day sales-a-palooza has ballooned into four days of sales. Now, you’ll see Black Friday sales (that actually start on Thanksgiving), Small Business Saturday/Sunday, Cyber Monday, and Giving Tuesday.
In 2010, Sears opened for the first time on Thanksgiving Day. The following year, Kohl’s and Walmart joined in. And then, the year after that Target hopped in, too. Now, there’s little difference between Thanksgiving and Black Friday at all.
In my 30s, I went Black Friday shopping with my cousin in LA. She insisted we get up at the crack of dawn. TBH, I was not impressed with the options. I could have gotten just as good a deal from the comfort of my bed shopping online… and I could have slept in! Turns out, I wasn’t alone in my thinking.
Roll on Cyber Monday.
What’s the Cyber Monday story?
The term Cyber Monday was coined by Ellen Davis, senior vice president of research and strategic initiatives for the National Retail Federation, in 2005. The NRF was tracking stats that showed a spike in online purchases the Monday following Thanksgiving. They attributed this spike to faster internet in the office and parents stealthy shopping for holiday gifts out of sight of their kiddos.
Retailers quickly adopted Cyber Monday and by 2014, Cyber Monday became the biggest online shopping day of the year.
I have found countless excellent Cyber Monday deals on things I actually need – from clothing to major appliances.
So, What do Black Friday and Cyber Monday mean for your business?
Both Black Friday and Cyber Monday are great buzzwords for SEO. Whether you are a brick-and-mortar business or a digital shop, if you can join the frenzy, do it!
There are generally two ways you can jump in on the Black Friday and Cyber Monday fun…
- Offer a deal or discount on your products or services.
- Add value to an already existing product or service.
Tips to make your Black Friday and Cyber Monday Sales a success!
- Serve. Make sure your offer is what your client or customer really wants and needs from you. (Check out this post for tips on how you can leverage social media to reach your audience.)
- Get eyes on your offer. Effectively advertise your Black Friday and Cyber Monday so your audience knows what you are offering and how long they have to snag the deal.
- Create a great experience. A flawless user experience from top to bottom will turn your Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales into lifelong customers.
Having a presence online with a Black Friday or Cyber Monday deal will positively impact your business.
