Black Friday History – Where does the bargain day come from

While Black Friday was completely unknown in Germany around 10 years ago, the popularity of this major shopping event has grown disproportionately in recent years. Despite all the excitement surrounding the numerous top deals, an interesting question still arises: Where does this popular bargain day actually come from?

What does Black Friday mean?

Black Friday is an unofficial sales day that originated in the United States. Traditionally, Black Friday is the first Friday after Thanksgiving .

Since Thanksgiving always falls on the fourth Thursday in November, the following Friday is a bridge day. Therefore, the Friday after Thanksgiving is traditionally used as a shopping day to get all your Christmas shopping done in time.

Where does the name “Black Friday” come from?

There are various theories about the origin of the term "Black Friday." None of the following theories is proven to be the origin of Black Friday, but each of them sounds plausible.

What is certain, however, is that Black Friday originated in the USA and has now become an integral part of more and more countries around the world. Originating in the USA, the name "Black Friday" has become a household name around the world.

crowds

One theory is that the addition of "Black" refers to the crowds of people who moved from store to store on this holiday. The crowds were said to blend into a single black mass.

There may also be a reference to the so-called "Black Thursday," the day of the stock market crash on October 24, 1929. On that day and the following day, countless people tried to withdraw their money from the bank and put it in a safe place.

Make a profit

According to another theory, retailers enter the profit zone on this day. On Black Friday, retailers generate enough sales to last the entire year. They break out of their previous negative balance and are able to "make a profit" solely on Black Friday sales.

Black hands

A similar theory follows this idea: The sellers take in so much money on Black Friday that by the end of the day their hands are already black from counting the money.

Documented mention

The first actual written mention of Black Friday in the USA was probably in Philadelphia in 1966. According to reports , the Philadelphia police named the Friday after Thanksgiving "Black Friday" in January 1966. The term was a reference to the traffic jams and crowded sidewalks caused by the rush of shoppers.

Black Friday in the USA

Black Friday has been around in the US for over 60 years. Since then, the intensity and enthusiasm of the people in the US have increased rather than decreased. Every American tries to take advantage of the deep discounts and find a real bargain. The hunt for bargains sometimes reaches dimensions that are difficult for outsiders to comprehend.

Customers waiting outside stores hours before entry and riotous scenes are not uncommon on Black Friday. In some shopping centers, police may even be called out.

Naturally, retailers try to take advantage of the huge rush. In some cities, large stores open as early as midnight, trying to lure bargain hunters into their stores.

Black Friday in Germany

In Germany, the history of Black Friday is relatively short. Black Friday was first advertised here in 2006. That year, Apple advertised discounts on its products on the Friday after Thanksgiving for the first time. However, the term "Black Friday" wasn't actually used at that time. It wasn't until the following years that "Black Friday" became more popular and used as a term.

In 2013, over 500 retailers advertised various Black Friday deals. Because the discounts were almost always very attractive, word of Black Friday quickly spread in Germany. Awareness grew, and according to recent surveys , 95 percent of Germans are familiar with Black Friday and its significance.

What day is Black Friday this year?

This year, Black Friday falls on November 26, 2021. It's a Friday, so it's safe to assume that not only online retailers will be prepared for this special day. Local retailers will also be offering numerous discounts and reduced prices on November 26, 2021.

Black Friday extension

In recent years, the Black Friday sales period has been continually extended. Online retailers, in particular, are increasingly referring not only to the traditional Black Friday, but also to Black Weekend, Black Friday Deal, Black Week, or Black Friday Deals. Both consumers and retailers benefit from this type of extended Black Friday.

Retailers can promote more products over several days and increase their sales, while consumers benefit from even more discounts and bargains. Customers' chances of finding an interesting deal increase.

Cyber ​​Monday

In addition to Black Weekend and many other "Black" promotions, Cyber ​​Monday should not go unmentioned in this context. Cyber ​​Monday is seen as a kind of complement to Black Friday.

It's another shopping day from the USA, which always falls on the Monday after Thanksgiving and also marks the start of the Christmas shopping season in the USA. This day is also becoming increasingly popular in Germany.

What products are sold?

On Black Friday and all other promotional days surrounding this period, all kinds of products are on sale. Products from electronics retailers and consumer electronics items in general are particularly popular with customers. Game consoles, laptops, televisions, and toys top the shopping list.

Beauty items such as perfumes, makeup, cosmetics, and drugstore items, as well as fashion and accessories, are also in great demand among bargain hunters. We at Horando also offer many luxury watches at lower prices. Here are the Horando Black Friday deals . As you can see, every deal hunter should find something they're looking for on this day.

The future of Black Friday

It will be interesting to see how Black Friday develops in Germany and how retailers will promote this day in the future. After all, with its numerous special offers, Black Friday has now achieved a level of awareness that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago.

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