The History of Black Friday prior to 2009

Black Friday Ad Deals Prior To Thanksgiving 2009: Best Pre-Christmas Holiday Shopping Discounts Advertised Now

Author: Frank W. Hardy
Published: Nov 6, 2009
http://www.suite101.com/

Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving when major retailers discount products to help kick off the Christmas shopping season - this year they're promoting very early. After the dismal Christmas shopping season of 2008, the customary specials that shoppers rush to stores to find on Black Friday are being advertised strongly this year. Sales are not only promoted but published early by merchants in hopes of enticing bargain hunters that are not unemployed. In some, cases the merchants have not only advertised the product deal early but actually allowed the purchase of the product, at the deal price, weeks before the sale date.

Discount Concept

The economic term Black Friday (BF), going from losses (red) to profits (black), has been a recent phenomenon starting in the late 1960. The idea is that on the Friday after Thanksgiving, stores have sufficient sales to put them in the black.

On BF, retailers deeply discount items in an attempt to attract customers into their stores. According to Consumer World, a non-commercial consumer resource guide, discounts average “40-50%... [But] the increased volume of shoppers buying non-discounted items makes Black Friday profitable for retailers….”

A 2007 BDO Seidman Retail Compass Survey reported that on Black Friday retailers receive “…15% of their total holiday revenue…and ‘Cyber Monday’ (the Monday after Thanksgiving) accounts for 12% of holiday season internet sales.”

As supplies of deeply discounted goods are often limited in quantity or duration by retailers, "door buster" sales are common on Black Friday. Consequently, customers who arrive early, line up and wait are usually the ones assured of receiving the advertised sale.

Retailer Sales Information

In the days before the PC, retailer’s avenues for providing information were ads stuffed into newspapers, company specific mailings, regional flyers, television and radio advertising. With the advent of the internet and corporate web pages, merchants have been able to reach a larger segment of the consumer world. By properly applying web technology retailers not only inform customers but also attract consumers directly to their products.

Today there are online sites like, BlackFriday.GottaDeal.Com, Black-Friday.net and 2009blackfridayads.com that keep track of businesses offering BF deals. A list of retailers who have already posted their best BF deals is contained below.

• Ace Hardware – in store deals only

• Burlington Coat Factory – expect to release ads this wee
  

• Craft Warehouse– offer handicraft and novelty items as well as 40% off coupons on everything.

• Discover Card – gives special cash back deals on purchases during the BF period.

• Gander Mountain –as well as being open on BF they will open at 3PM on Thanksgiving Day.

• Half Price Books – also has CDs and videos. Located in 15 states that open at 7:00 AM on BF!

• Harbor Freight Tools – is one of the first to offer their Black Friday list.

• K-Mart - their ad comes in at 40-pages.

• Lowe’s Hardware – has hundreds of items available at deep discounts but the prices are only good during Black Friday, according to their ad.

• Office Max – while having a website they deny that these discounts are BF deals.

• Old Navy – has a short list of general clothing that is discounted but will also give away free the Lego Rock Band video game to everyone who makes a $20 purchase.

• Safeway – gives away a free turkey with any $200 purchases before BF.

• Sears – has blockbuster deals ranging from Craftsman Drill/Drivers to 50” HDTVs.

• Tanger Outlets – offers deals on Banana Republic, Carters and Gap Outlet items.

• Target – has a 44 page BF catalog.

• Toys-R-Us – has most of their sale items available for online ordering. They offer free shipping on orders of $49 or more.

• Wal-Mart – is by far this year’s largest advertiser of deals. Starting as early as November 7th 2009, they offer BF deals on everything from electronics to $200 gift cards for $100. There will be a minimum of 10 items per store with a limit of 1 item per customer.

• Wal-Mart Online Only – has brought back their online-exclusive sale which offers most in store deals on line.