Nothing quite starts the season of giving like ripping a television out of someone’s hands or shoving people out of the way for the hottest deal on the shelves. Black Friday is the day following Thanksgiving, famous for big sales and the start of the holiday shopping season.
Just a few years ago, people would camp outside of their favorite stores, waiting for the doors to open, and then flood inside like a consumer free-for-all. Now, it seems these scenes of chaos are nothing but a memory. What was once considered the biggest shopping day of the year is now fading out of relevancy. So, what exactly happened to Black Friday?
The Online Shopping Takeover
For years, Black Friday has been synonymous with large crowds and chaotic scenes. These highly sought-after deals lured shoppers into stores by the masses. Year after year, the numbers have trickled down to the point that these scenes are a rarity. This is mostly due to the rise of online shopping.
As many stores focus on digital retailing, consumers no longer have to fight or wait in ridiculous lines for a deal. Most online stores offer the same sales as in-person ones, so shoppers can simply click and checkout hassle-free. This along with the introduction of Cyber Monday, the online version of Black Friday, gives customers an even bigger incentive to stay home.
A Year-Long Holiday
Cyber Monday, while intended to be an entirely separate day, has instead made black Friday a weekend-long event. Most sales start on Friday and end Monday night. This opened the possibility for month-long sales, as retailers are eager to extend the holiday shopping season, and avoid sellouts and crowded stores.
This new format reduces any sense of urgency that Black Friday once brought forth. Now, people have the time to choose when they want to go to the store instead of running in at opening to get the deal they want. Nowadays, customers spread out their shopping season and ease supply chain demands.
Supply Chain Issues
In more recent years, consumers have experienced a spike in inflation as retailers are experiencing supply chain issues. Many are noticing that some stores aren’t offering sales or those who do aren’t discounting much at all.
The whole point of the day used to be limited-time massive sales, but now it seems the sales are mediocre at best. Since the products in demand run out so quickly, prices increase in response, diminishing the whole appeal of Black Friday itself.
The changing retail scene might have weakened black Friday’s significance but it is unlikely to go away any time soon. It is an iconic start to the holiday season that retailers won’t want to lose. If nothing changes, it will slowly fade. If stores adapt to the changing market, Black Friday can continue to be the peak shopping day of the year.
Do you have any crazy Black Friday experiences? Tweet us @VALLEYmag on X with your stories!
