Black Friday

Black Friday

Dear World

Are we ready for this Black Friday?

Retailers are telling us that there are bargains to be had and our minds are jumping on the bandwagon.

Black Friday is now a part of the happy holiday activities that many of us are now subscribing to.

Have we bothered to stop and consider what on earth is all this Black Friday stuff is about?

WHY is there so much bombardment with ads everywhere reminding us of Black Friday?

How come our screens are flashing non-stop about this ‘magic day’ which is finally here?

What is it about the whole Black Friday thing that we have got set up in our mind?

Is Black Friday delivering the pictures we have of what we want and what price we want to pay?

Are we being Fooled or is this just another way to distract us and get us hooked into spending more?

Are we going crazy because we got the wonga so why not splash out and save some bucks?

Are we just following other people as this is what they do soon after the Thanksgiving Day is over?

Are we ready with our plastic cards and lose all sense of reality when our screens pop up with sensational offers?

Are we seriously into saving money and Black Friday delivers our dreams in one single day?

Are we buying way beyond our means as we want to make others Happy and we think this is how to do it?

Are we trying to keep up with the Holiday deals even though our Heart is racing and saying stop stop?

Are we seeking this type of Crazy shopping as we want something to bang on about at work?

Are we off to the high street, knowing we need nothing but end up getting sucked in with buying?

Are we getting caught up in the kill like it’s a Drug?

In other words, we just want the ‘hit’ when we get the jumbo discount and that’s where it all ends.

Are we going into the shopping mall full of expectations knowing we could end up more miserable if we don’t get what we want?

Where did this Black Friday thing come from and what is behind this frantic Friday?

 

What is Black Friday?

Black Friday is the start of the famous sales weekend following Thanksgiving Day

Significant amount of shoppers head to the high street stores or go online in an attempt to find the best deals. (1)

It used to be a one-day of discounts prior to Christmas

Now it is almost a two-week long spending phenomenon (2)

Crowd scenes have been marred by stampedes and fights (3)

 

Hello

How come the shops are now turning this ONE Friday into a TWO WEEK long spending thing?

WHY are we having fights in the name of shopping?

WHY are we behaving like wild animals with our ‘bargain hunter’ hat on?

WHY is there such mass panic where we lose all Connection and our common sense?

We could sit and Blame the suppliers for making us spend more or we could just Stop and pause for a moment and ask some sensible Questions like –

WHY do we lose all common sense when it comes to Black Friday spending?

What makes us irresponsible at this time of the year?

How have we been living for the whole year, up to this Friday and what have our shopping habits been?

Can we see a pattern emerging of our shopping behaviour thus far this year?

Are we acting and operating like sensible adults, or are we going nuts with this frenzy Friday?

Before we point fingers and Blame the retailers for hooking us all in, can we take note that they would be out of business if there was no demand from us?

In other words, we demand this type of shopping experience and they are more than ready to supply.

 

The History of Black Friday 

The first recorded use of the term “Black Friday” was applied not to holiday shopping but to financial crisis: specifically, the crash of the U.S. gold market on Friday 24 September 1869.

Two Wall Street financiers worked together to buy up as much of the nation’s gold in hope of driving the price sky-high and then selling it for large profits.

On that day, the conspiracy finally unraveled and sent the stock market into free-fall, bankrupting everyone from Wall Street barons to farmers.

Retail – after operating at a loss, stores would supposedly earn a profit and go into the “black” on the day after Thanksgiving, because holiday shoppers spent so much money on discounted merchandise.

1950’s Philadelphia used the term Black Friday to describe the chaos that ensued on the day after Thanksgiving, when hordes of suburban shoppers and tourists flooded the city in advance of the big Army-Navy football game held on that Saturday every year.

Police were not able to take the day off and would have to work long shifts to deal with additional crowds and traffic.

Shoplifters would also take the opportunity and this is the story behind Black Friday.

In late 1980s, retailers found a way to reinvent Black Friday – the result was the “red to black” concept of the holiday and the notion that the day after Thanksgiving marked the occasion when America’s stores finally turned a profit. (4)

As US retailers realised they could draw big crowds by discounting prices, Black Friday became the day to shop. (5)

The Black Friday story stuck and the term’s darker roots in Philadelphia were largely forgotten. Since then, the one-day sales bonanza has morphed into a 4-day event and spawned other retail holidays such as Small Business Saturday/Sunday and Cyber Monday.

Stores started opening earlier on that Friday and now shoppers can head out right after their Thanksgiving meal. (4)

 

USA

2018

$6.2 Billion – Black Friday online spending

$2 Billion was generated from smartphones (1)

23.6% increase from previous year – 2017

 

33.5% e-commerce sales from mobile devices

Shoppers buying big items like appliances and furniture from phones (6)

Black Friday known to be best day to buy toys (7)

73% rise in “click and collect” orders from Thanksgiving to Black Friday
Retailers hope customers will buy more when they arrive to pick up their items (6)

 

2019

114.6 Million consumers are considering shopping on Black Friday (8)

Millions of American families head off to the mall on Black Friday looking for something they can all do together – soak up the retail spectacle. (3)

Over $6 Billion spent shopping online in just one day in one country and a third is done from our mobile phones.

If we just stop and re-read this – what is it really saying?

What will the figure be this year – 2019?

Are these just numbers that mean nothing?

Are these numbers telling us something?

Are we following the masses?

Are we getting the FOMO bug?

Are we looking for More More More because something in our life is truly missing?

Are we feeling a continuous unrest inside our body so we seek to distract ourselves to get rid of that feeling?

Are our shopping habits actually supporting us in life?

Are we just interested in making sure we get a good deal?

Are we using this Black Friday event to confirm we love to shop and spend and spend and spend for no real reason?

Are we using Black Friday to save bucks but in truth we end up spending way more than our budget allows?

Are we using the Black Friday offer at the health store advertising CBD skincare, in the name of wellbeing?

Are we using Black Friday deals to keep up with others and show off on Social Media?

Are we using Black Friday to get the “too good to be true’ deals, which are just scams on social media?

 

The Growth of Black Friday in UK

2010 

Online retail giant introduced the concept to the UK, promoting a range of deals and discounts to consumers.

2013

A well-known supermarket, owned by an American retailer held its own Black Friday sale.

This resulted in chaos as customers physically fought for gadgets and Televisions

Many retailers have boosted profits by participating in Black Friday

 

2018

£1.49 Billion spent on Black Friday with online retail sites

194 Million visits made to UK shopping pages online

In recent years, a number of promotions and offers have started in the days building up to Black Friday – a move called “Black Fiveday”. (1)

Black Friday marks the first opportunity to do some serious Christmas Shopping (5)

 

2018

46% increase in online sales by 4pm

80% increase in Black Friday searches over last 2 years – Google

British supermarkets engaged by slashing the price of spirits (2)

 

Hello – Chaos and fighting in the name of shopping

How on earth have we got to this point where buying a TV on Black Friday results in harming another fellow human?

Next –

Knocking down the price of spirits on Black Friday means supermarkets make more money and those buying ADD more harm to their body.

Alcohol is a scientific proven poison and that means it is not designed for human consumption.

We call ourselves Intelligent and yet we seem to have a selective suitable way to allow a poison to alter our natural state and think it is ok to continue living in this way.

Our forensic article on this website is well worth reading
The Real Truth about Alcohol

Then read ALL the comments that ADD and expand what is being presented and there will be no doubt, we have created a poison to take us away from our natural state and our body suffers as a result of our choices.

Spirits have been around for a long long time and yet we do not question WHY?

WHY do we not seem to want to know the effects of alcohol on the human body?

WHY do we not want to have the real awareness of what alcohol is doing inside our minds?

WHY do we not want to look at WHY we use Alcohol in the first place and what it is gives us?

We cannot ever Blame the suppliers because they are only in business if there is a demand.

So the real Question is – WHY is there a demand?

 

Black Friday is now one of the biggest shopping days in the UK

Search data shows most popular are tech items like TVs and Games consoles
Also popular are large home goods like furniture and appliances

2019

56% of Black Friday shoppers say they plan to do it all Online

Men say they intend to spend more than women this Black Friday

Post millennial (born after 1996) Black Friday shoppers plan spend most (9)

In recent years, sales volumes continued to be high on the Saturday following Black Friday in the UK and USA. (10)

 

GLOBAL

The following countries have emerged with Black Friday alongside USA and UK

• Brazil
• France
• Germany
• India
• Norway
• Romania (1)

More and more consumers are choosing to shop online, instead of waiting outside in the cold early hours with other shoppers or battling over the last most-wanted item. (5)

 

WHY is the Black Friday Sale such a Big Deal for us?

How come we see the number but not the tiny bit above which says up to  50% off?

WHY are we not seeing the small print or is it deliberately designed this way so we miss it?

WHY are we disappointed when we get there and its only 20% off on selected lines and that means not everything?

WHY are we angry when reality hits and that 50% we got stuck in our head is not happening?

WHY do retailers come up with 0% interest free credit  and free delivery on Black Friday on beds costing £2,000?

WHY do we conveniently forget our budget as we read the Black Friday advert saying Shop Now, Pay Later?

 

Which – a consumers association tracked a range of popular products included in 2018’s Black Friday sales and found –

95% were available cheaper or the same price from the same retailer, at least once in the six months that followed.

61% of items looked at were cheaper or the same price at least once before the Black Friday sales period.

48% of all the products were sold at lower prices after Black Friday

47% of all the products look at were available for the same price

97% home products cheaper or same price after Black Friday.

94% technology products cheaper or same price after Black Friday.

Only 4 out of 83 products were at their cheapest price on Black Friday when compared with the six months before and after.

 

Hello Hello

Are we being Fooled?

Do we need to Wake Up?

Can we join the dots here?

WHY is this not making sense?

WHY are we getting caught up in all this hype around Black Friday which clearly is bagging us the bargains?

Slashing prices and time-limited sales are words to entice us and we need to be warned not to fall for the pressure tactics around Black Friday.

According to Which, this popular shopping event is all a hype and there are only a few genuine discounts.

 

Dear World

This blog and this website are presenting that we are the ones that make the demand and then the suppliers give us what we desire.

In other words – they deliver no matter what it is

It could be illegal Drugs or another new sofa or a dodgy passport.

We live in a “I want it now” world and at the touch of a button we can have it 24/7.

We have plastic in our money world and it is very easy to get caught up in the ‘buy now, pay later’ system that many of us have experienced.

Whatever is behind our drive to buy anything, because it has a Big discount or looks like a deal not to be missed, it is well worth a stop moment to at least consider the following –

• Where has this come from?

• Is it fed to me in my head?

• Do I really have space for it?

• Do I honestly need it right now?

• What do I want it for and WHY?

• Being  Honest – where will it end up?

• Is this just another buzz for me?

• Is this my usual distraction?

We bang on about how man is affecting mother Earth and yet we seem quite happy behaving like we have endless resources as our “Throwaway Society” continues to grow…

What will it take for us to turn the tides, once and for all, by being sensible when we make any purchase, be it online or in the shops on our high street?

How far have we deviated from good old fashion ways like – only buy what we need and can afford?

If we just look at our shopping behaviours with a dose of Honesty – are we really evolving?

The following articles on this website are well worth reading as they present the facts and more Questions

Waste
Christmas Waste
Christmas Shopping
Online Shopping

AND Finally –

Do we end up in the red or the black on Black Friday with our super deals and discounts?

AND was it worth it?

 

 

 

 References

(1) Daly, H. (2019, November 22). How Did Black Friday Gets Its Name? The History Behind the Biggest Sales Event of the Year. The Telegraph. Retrieved November 24, 2019 from
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/black-friday/0/what-black-friday-name-why-called-history-meaning/

(2) Williams, A. (2018, November 30). Top Ten Black Friday Stats 2018. Retail Assist. Retrieved November 22, 2019 from
https://retail-assist.co.uk/top-ten-black-friday-stats-2018/

(3) Parmar, H., & Rupp, L. (2018, November 27). Black Friday. Bloomberg. Retrieved November 22, 2019 from
https://www.bloomberg.com/quicktake/black-friday

(4) Pruitt, S. (2018, November 20). What’s the Real History of Black Friday? History. Retrieved November 21, 2019 from
https://www.history.com/news/whats-the-real-history-of-black-friday

(5) Zdtech. (2019, April 29). Black Friday History and Statistics. Black Friday. Retrieved November 22, 2019 from
https://www.blackfriday.co.uk/news/32/black-friday-history-and-statistics

(6) Thomas, L. (2018, November 28). Black Friday Pulled in a Record $6.22 Billion in Online Sales: Adobe Analytics. CNBC. Retrieved November 22, 2019 from
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/24/black-friday-pulled-in-a-record-6point22-billion-in-online-sales-adobe.html

(7) Amadeo, K. (2019, June 25). What is Black Friday? Sales and Trends. The Balance. Retrieved November 22, 2019 from
https://www.thebalance.com/what-is-black-friday-3305710

(8) (2019, November 15). More than 165 Million People Expected to Shop Over Five-Day Thanksgiving Weekend. National Retail Federation. Retrieved November 21, 2019 from
https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/more-165-million-people-expected-shop-over-five-day-thanksgiving

(9) Johnson, G. (2019, November 22). Black Friday Statistics. Finder. Retrieved November 22, 2019 from
https://www.finder.com/uk/black-friday-statistics

(10) Charlton, G. (2019, September 30). 11 Black Friday and Cyber Monday Online Retail Stats. Sale Cycle. Retrieved November 28, 2019 from
https://www.salecycle.com/blog/featured/11-black-friday-and-cyber-monday-online-retail-stats/

(11) Walsh, H. (2019, November 26). 95% of Products in Black Friday ‘Deals’ are Cheaper or the Same Price After the Sales. Which? Retrieved November 27, 2019 from
https://www.which.co.uk/news/2019/11/95-of-products-in-black-friday-deals-are-cheaper-or-the-same-price-after-the-sales/