As the holiday season kicks off, shoppers eagerly anticipate the biggest shopping day of the year: Black Friday. But have you ever wondered where this phenomenon came from? The answer might surprise you.
In the 1950s, Philadelphia police coined the term "Black Friday" to describe the chaos that erupted on the day after Thanksgiving. The city was overrun with shoppers and tourists, causing traffic jams, crowded streets, and a surge in shoplifting. For police, it was a logistical nightmare.
Fast-forward to the 1980s, when retailers cleverly flipped the script on Black Friday. They created a narrative that positioned the day as a crucial turning point for businesses, marking the moment when they turned a profit. This marketing magic transformed Black Friday into a national shopping event.
Today, Black Friday has morphed into a four-day shopping extravaganza, complete with spin-off events like Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday. As shoppers prepare to snag the best deals, it's interesting to reflect on the humble – and chaotic – beginnings of this major retail phenomenon.
