Black Friday used to be the day everyone waited for: massive crowds, crazy doorbuster deals, and the thrill of snagging the best bargains. It was the one day of the year when tons of stores would make their revenue, with people camping out overnight so they could be the first ones in the store. So, what happened?
Online Shopping Takes Over
Arguably, one of the main reasons Black Friday isn’t the same as it was is because of the rise of online shopping. Popular retailers such as Amazon, Walmart, and Target are offering the same—if not better—deals on their websites, for which you don’t need to wait in a line or fight over stock with limited availability. You can shop directly from your couch, and in some cases, get early access to deals even before Black Friday hits. Besides, Cyber Monday has also become very popular, as many stores now extend the deals through the entire weekend. All these factors have toned down Black Friday to being just another day of shopping rather than the event to shop.
Changing Shopping Habits
The second factor constitutes how people shop nowadays. More consumers are thinking with their heads while purchasing and don’t just barge into a store for any deal. In the pandemic, people got used to shopping online, and many have stuck with that even as things started opening back up. They would rather not deal with the crowds and can buy what they need from their phones or computers. Shopping has become more of a matter of convenience, and the old “Black Friday rush” doesn’t quite appeal the same anymore.
Retailers Are Adjusting
Retailers have caught on to these changes, too. Lots of retailers now start their Black Friday sales early, even by as much as weeks in advance. They’re spreading out the deals instead of having everything crammed into one day. Stores are focusing more on online promotions and offering smaller discounts over a longer period of time, so it doesn’t feel like a rush to get the best price in one day.
Is Black Friday Over?
It doesn’t have the same fanfare as it used to, but Black Friday isn’t entirely over. It’s just different. Some people still treat it as a ritual and use it as an opportunity to get ahead in holiday shopping, but the crowds and craziness are much more subdued. Online shopping, more reflective consumerism, and changes by retailers have made the big shopping day feel a little less intense. The deals are still there, just in a new form.
