Halloween's done, pumpkins are sagging like last season's fashion, and you think, maybe, we'd get a breather? As if! Thanksgiving? Barely a blip, love. The real headliner? Black Friday's Dirty Secret, storming in with all the grace of a department store Santa who's knocked back one too many spiked eggnogs.
Once a humble shopping day for bargain hunters and tech enthusiasts. Now, it's a full-blown season, with pre-sales, teaser discounts, and something akin to trick-or-treating in the form of "doorbuster" deals. Shoppers map out routes and set alarm clocks with the focus of generals planning a campaign, all in the name of scoring the latest vacuum robot or an air fryer with WiFi. Such a deal, right?
Many retailers are expected to launch early deals in early November.
Don't be fooled by the name "Black Friday". It no longer sticks to Friday. The event stretches from Thanksgiving Eve through Cyber Monday and beyond, creating a kind of November limbo where deals pile on deals. Online retailers Amazon and Walmart are scheduled to run their "Black Friday Deals for Days" event, which has multiple sales throughout November with peak discounts around Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Stores are coining new terms like "Pre-Black Friday" and "Cyber Savings Month," ensuring that there's always a reason to refresh your cart.
The true spirit of Black Friday is in the drama, the thrill of walking into a store — or, more realistically, clicking into a website — not knowing if the prize you're seeking will still be there. "It's a fun shared experience! You'll find yourself next to new friends, all bonded by a common, sleep-deprived determination.", said Melissa Campbell, who started shopping the day after Halloween this year. It's like Halloween, but instead of candy, the treats are kitchen gadgets, discounted winter coats, and TVs that are "practically free."
So, as you pack away the Halloween decorations and gear up for Thanksgiving, remember there's another "holiday" looming right around the corner. It's chaotic, intense, and perhaps the retail world's best-kept dirty secret: Black Friday. It's chaotic, scary, and very American. Isn't that what the season's all about?