Black Friday (United States)

Black Friday (United States)
Name	Black Friday (United States)
Caption	Shoppers at a retail store on Black Friday
Observedby	United States
Significance	Major shopping day after Thanksgiving Day
Date	Day after Thanksgiving Day
Scheduling	Annual

Black Friday (United States) is the colloquial name for the major annual shopping day that follows Thanksgiving Day in the United States. Traditionally marking the start of the holiday shopping season, it involves extensive participation by Walmart, Target, Amazon, Best Buy, Macy's, Kmart, Costco, and other national retailers. The day is associated with large-scale retail promotions, doorbuster sales, and significant media coverage by outlets such as The New York Times, CNN, Fox News, and The Wall Street Journal.

History

Origins trace to 19th and 20th-century retail practices around Thanksgiving and the Christmas season, with some historians linking terms to events like the Panic of 1869 and early Philadelphia traffic descriptions. The modern usage was popularized in the 1960s by retailers in Philadelphia and later promoted nationally by chains such as Walmart and Sears, intersecting with cultural institutions including National Retail Federation and media outlets like The Washington Post. The phrase grew in prominence during the late 20th and early 21st centuries as corporations including Target and Best Buy expanded weekend-long promotions, while advertising strategies from agencies such as Ogilvy and J. Walter Thompson amplified awareness. Legislative and labor actors like AFL–CIO and the United Food and Commercial Workers influenced scheduling and staffing debates, and controversies occasionally involved municipal authorities in cities like New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles.

Economic Impact and Retail Practices

Black Friday functions as a key metric for fiscal performance for companies such as Walmart, Amazon, Target, Best Buy, Macy's, Kohl's, Home Depot, and Lowe's. Analysts at firms like Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan Chase, and Nielsen assess sales and foot traffic to forecast quarterly results. Retail practices include loss leaders, doorbuster promotions, and limited-quantity items, shaped by logistics partners like FedEx, UPS, and DHL. Payment networks including Visa, Mastercard, and American Express track transaction volumes, while antitrust regulators such as the Federal Trade Commission and the United States Department of Justice monitor competitive behavior. Seasonal hiring spikes involve staffing agencies and labor providers; unions and advocacy groups, including United Food and Commercial Workers, have impacted scheduling and worker protections.

Consumer Behavior and Culture

Consumer participation is influenced by cultural touchstones like Thanksgiving gatherings, television coverage on NBC, ABC, and online platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Shoppers often target electronics brands like Apple Inc., Samsung Electronics, Sony Corporation, Microsoft, and Nintendo; fashion labels including Nike, Inc., Adidas, Levi Strauss & Co., and H&M; and appliance makers like Whirlpool Corporation and LG Electronics. Behavioral research from institutions such as Harvard University, Stanford University, and University of Pennsylvania explores impulsivity, scarcity effects, and herd behavior linked to media narratives from outlets like The New Yorker and The Atlantic.

Marketing, Deals, and Pricing Controversies

Marketing campaigns by corporations including Procter & Gamble, Unilever, Samsung Electronics, Apple Inc., Best Buy, and Amazon use targeted advertising across agencies like Ogilvy and platforms such as Google Ads and Meta to drive traffic. Controversies have arisen over deceptive pricing, reference price manipulation, and the ethics of limited-quantity "doorbuster" tactics; consumer protection authorities including the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general in California, New York, and Florida have investigated claims. Trade groups such as the National Retail Federation defend practices while consumer advocates from Consumers Union and Public Citizen call for transparency. Litigation has involved retailers like Sears and Walmart and law firms specializing in class actions.

Safety, Crowd Management, and Incidents

High foot traffic and competitive promotions have led to incidents at stores including Walmart, Target, and Best Buy, prompting responses from local law enforcement agencies such as the New York City Police Department, Los Angeles Police Department, and Chicago Police Department. Crowd-control strategies employed by corporations and municipal authorities draw on standards from organizations like the National Incident Management System and involve security contractors, private firms, and emergency medical services. Notable incidents have prompted corporate policy changes and litigation; workplace safety advocates and unions including United Food and Commercial Workers and Service Employees International Union have campaigned for employee protections and emergency protocols.

Online Shopping and Cyber Monday

The expansion of e-commerce platforms—led by Amazon, eBay, Walmart.com, Target.com, and marketplaces like Shopify—has shifted consumer behavior toward online deals, culminating in Cyber Monday. Payment processors including PayPal, Stripe, and card networks track online transaction surges, while cybersecurity firms such as Symantec, McAfee, and CrowdStrike monitor fraudulent activity. Logistics and last-mile delivery involve FedEx, UPS, USPS, and fulfillment centers operated by major retailers. The interplay between brick-and-mortar chains like Best Buy and digital platforms has led to omnichannel strategies combining in-store pickup, ship-from-store, and mobile app integrations promoted by technology vendors including SAP SE and Oracle Corporation.

Category:Retail in the United States