This morning as I drove to work, trying not to think about how my phone said it was 17º outside while my car said it was 22º and thinking that I don’t care that I just read two different temperatures, it’s still freaking cold out. To try to stay warm while my car got up to temp, I started to let my mind wander to take it off of the cold, I remembered that next week is that most American of holidays. That’s right, only one more week till Black Friday. Now I know what you’re thinking, Thanksgiving comes first, and you are right. But when two holidays fall so close together, you have to be ready for the next day as well. And even though my stomach is more concerned with the Turkey and the stuffing and the gravy, and the football, there is a little spot in the back of my head that every year debates “Am I going to go to the store? Am I crazy? Or will I just be lazy?”
In the 1920s, Macy’s Department store started what is now a Thanksgiving day tradition. Houses across the US tune in two watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, even if it’s just on in the background while the family begins its Turkey Preparations. The parade has come to symbolize the celebration of family, and the subliminal message of holiday shopping. Well, maybe not too subliminal since the parade is the “Macy’s” Thanksgiving Day Parade, and goes by their big store in NYC. And at the end of the Parade, Santa comes riding in on his sleigh to remind us all that after today when the stores reopen tomorrow, that the Christmas shopping season has begun.
In the world of retail, seasons and holidays always seem to come months before the event. As soon as Halloween was over, Christmas decorations and merchandise were already going up. For people like my sister who watch their shopping budget, the shopping begins before the leaves even turn colors. Until recently, I used to wait until the week before Christmas to do all my shopping. But I guess when you are single and don’t have a lot of people to shop for, it makes more sense. Now, even I contemplate the early shopping. But no matter how early the Christmas season seems to start every year, there is one day that will never move, BLACK FRIDAY.
However, this year I have noticed something new. Maybe it’s been there for a while and I’m just noticing it now, or maybe stores are trying to build the hype. This year I have noticed reports of Black Friday ads being leaked from places like Circuit City, Radio Shack and Best Buy. And with the economy the way that it is, some stores (Circuit City) are hanging on by a thread, and Black Friday is just the ticket to pull them out. Now, I am no longer averse to going to the store on Black Friday (or stay at home and shop online), but there is no way I am getting up early to go to the store on my day off. In fact, getting me to the store before lunch would be a miracle. But the real question is, what is it about Black Friday that will make people get out of bed at 3 AM when they normally groan about getting up at 6 or 7 Am for their job, go out in the cold of night when they hate the cold, stand in a line and then encounter this…
For what, so save $50 on a toy, or a DVD player? Yes, I like to save money, and love finding great deals on products (especially electronics) but nothing would make me get up this early for a piece of plastic with some wires in it. Further more, events like this betray the Christmas spirit and the whole reason we came to the store in the first place. We aren’t out shopping for ourselves (or at least we shouldn’t be) we are out shopping for the people in our lives that mean something. And we are there to get them a gift that shows them that we care about and cherish them. But when I look around and see that Black Friday is only about the consumer in us, then I have to say that it, more than other holiday, is the most American. It is the capitalist holiday that wants us to get out of our warm beds, dress for a snow storm, kiss our loved ones good-bye, and head out for battle against our neighbors for the last 42″ LCD that we are buying for our kids bedroom that doesn’t even have a wall big enough to put the TV on.
In this last week leading up to Black Friday, slow your role, and think about it before you head out. Wouldn’t you rather sleep in and have a nice breakfast with the family and enjoy the day off. And then, if you really want to take advantage of the sales, go out after lunch when all the crazy people have gone home. Sure, it will still be crowded, and maybe the stock pile has gone down somewhat, but there will still be things to buy, and sales to be had. Happy Shopping Everyone!
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One of our partners, Champs Sports, has already sent us their Black Friday Special: More to come soon!
