Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving in the United States and marks the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season. It’s best known for widespread discounts across stores and online retailers, with many promotions running for a short window—often starting early in the morning or even overnight and sometimes continuing through the weekend and into Cyber Monday. The term originated in the mid-20th century and has evolved from a descriptive label used by police in Philadelphia to describe heavy shopping congestion, to the retail-centric concept of moving from “red ink” (loss) to “black ink” (profit) as promotions boost sales. Key points:
- Timing: The Friday after Thanksgiving, which falls between late November and early December each year.
- Purpose: Kick off the holiday shopping season with promotional deals to attract shoppers.
- Formats: In-store doorbusters, online flash sales, extended hours, and increasingly, a mix of in-store and online experiences.
- Global impact: While rooted in the U.S., Black Friday sales and promotions have spread to many countries, often with localized twists and timing variations.
- Related events: Cyber Monday (the following Monday focused on online deals) and Cyber Week (a longer online-focused sale period).
If you’d like, I can tailor this to a specific region or provide a concise history timeline and how the concept has changed with online shopping.
