A day of sales and great deals, Black Friday has become one of the year's biggest shopping days. Always falling the Friday after American Thanksgiving, this day sees an array of companies put on massive sales and discounts on various goods.
There are many stories about where the term ‘Black Friday’ came from. Some say it’s the day businesses go ‘in the black’ instead of ‘in the red’, which refers to them turning a profit. This, whilst untrue, is a popular explanation as it’s a nice story.
Another theory on the name’s origin comes from workers calling in sick. The day after Thanksgiving, which falls on the fourth Thursday of November, many Americans would call in sick to extend their holiday. This led to their employers referring to the day as Black Friday, as shops were bustling and places were often understaffed.
Police and bus drivers also started using the term on this day in the 1950s-1960s in Philadelphia. Not only was it the busiest shopping day of the year due to the post-thanksgiving sales, but it was also when the Navy-Army college football game took place, meaning the city was extremely busy. The long hours the police had to work, the smog created, and the long traffic jams led to them referring to the day ‘Black Friday’.
Public relations representatives tried to change the name to ‘Big Friday’ to brush off the negative connotations, but this rebranding didn’t stick around, and the term ‘Black Friday’ seems to be here to stay.
Black Friday sales have spread across the globe due to big American companies offering various deals online. Large retailers, including The Range, now participate in this day of big sales. Over the years, Black Friday has become increasingly popular in the UK. For many businesses, Black Friday has changed from one day to a week, if not longer, of exciting deals in stores and online.
Falling at the end of November, people see this as the perfect time to get a large chunk of their Christmas shopping done. With TVs, games consoles, workout equipment, home décor items and much more up for grabs every year, it’s the perfect time to shop for the whole family.
What was once a bad day for Philadelphia police and American employers has now become a day where shoppers worldwide try to get the best deals and start their Christmas present buying. Have a look at our exciting Black Friday deals here and for some top tips on how to make the most of this day, check out our Black Friday Survival Guide.