Category: Event Guides10 Fun Facts You Never Knew About Black Friday
Black Friday has become one of the most recognized shopping events in the world, famous for its jaw-dropping discounts, doorbuster deals, and massive crowds flooding into stores. For many shoppers, it’s the official kickoff to the holiday shopping season, a chance to grab the latest gadgets, fashion, and gifts at unbeatable prices. But Black Friday is more than just long checkout lines and early morning queues.
Behind the scenes, it has a fascinating history, quirky traditions, and surprising facts that many people have never heard about. From its unusual origins to the way it has shaped global shopping habits, Black Friday tells a story of economics, culture, and even human behavior. In this article, we’ll uncover 10 fun facts about Black Friday that reveal how it all started, how it has evolved, and why it continues to dominate the retail world year after year.
1. The Term “Black Friday” Didn’t Start With Shopping
When you hear “Black Friday,” you probably think of crowded stores and big sales. But the term has roots in something completely different. In 1869, “Black Friday” referred to a financial panic caused when two investors tried to manipulate the U.S. gold market. The attempt failed, leading to a market crash that hurt thousands of investors.
Fast forward to the 1960s, police officers in Philadelphia started using the term “Black Friday” to describe the heavy traffic and chaos on the day after Thanksgiving, when holiday shoppers swarmed downtown. Retailers later embraced it, putting a positive spin on the phrase and connecting it to profitability.
2. Retailers Rebranded Black Friday to Sound Positive
Originally, “Black Friday” had a negative tone, it symbolized chaos, stress, and overwhelming crowds. Retailers knew they needed a better angle if they wanted shoppers to feel excited rather than dreading the day. That’s when they rebranded the name to suggest that it was the time of year when businesses moved from being “in the red” (operating at a loss) to “in the black” (earning profit).
This clever marketing twist worked wonders. By reframing the meaning, businesses made Black Friday sound like a celebration of savings and success, and shoppers quickly embraced the new narrative.
3. Black Friday is the Busiest Day of the Year for Plumbers
Yes, you read that right. While shoppers are rushing into malls and logging onto Amazon, plumbers are just as busy. The day after Thanksgiving has consistently been the busiest day of the year for plumbing companies. With millions of people hosting family dinners, kitchens and bathrooms get overloaded, leading to clogged sinks, stuffed disposals, and bathroom backups.
So, while retailers are celebrating their biggest sales day, plumbers are cashing in on repair calls. It’s one of the strangest side effects of America’s favorite shopping holiday.
4. Online Shopping is Taking Over
For decades, Black Friday meant camping outside your favorite store in freezing weather to grab a TV at half price. But the growth of e-commerce has changed the game. Today, shoppers can score incredible deals without ever leaving their homes.
Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy now release many deals online ahead of time, and lightning deals keep people glued to their screens throughout the day. Another big perk of shopping online is the ability to stack promo codes. Smart shoppers know they can check out Discount Codez for coupons and promo codes to save even more during Black Friday sales.
Some of the key benefits of online Black Friday shopping include:
Convenience: Shop anytime, anywhere without waiting in long lines.
Wider selection: Online stores often carry more inventory than local shops.
Early access: Many deals go live before stores open their physical doors.
Extra discounts: Digital coupons and codes can stack with existing sales.
Faster comparison: Shoppers can quickly compare prices across multiple retailers.
This shift shows how digital convenience is redefining the holiday.
5. Black Friday Isn’t Just American Anymore
While Black Friday began in the United States, it’s now a global phenomenon. Countries like Canada, the UK, Germany, Brazil, and Australia have all adopted it, often with their own twist. In fact, some regions run week-long events rather than just a single day of sales.
The spread is largely thanks to online shopping. Global retailers and marketplaces want to keep up with their American counterparts, so they now push their own Black Friday campaigns to compete for attention. Even in places that don’t celebrate Thanksgiving, the phrase “Black Friday” has become synonymous with discounts and doorbusters.
6. Some Retailers Start Weeks in Advance
Once upon a time, Black Friday started the morning after Thanksgiving. Over the years, it crept earlier and earlier. At one point, some stores even opened on Thanksgiving night, sparking debates about family traditions.
Today, the trend has shifted toward early launches. Walmart, Target, and Amazon now roll out deals as early as the first week of November. This helps spread out the crowds, but it also gives shoppers extra time to research and plan. By the time Black Friday itself arrives, many of the hottest items may already be on sale.
7. Cyber Monday Was Born Out of Black Friday’s Popularity
If Black Friday wasn’t big enough, retailers introduced Cyber Monday in 2005. The idea came from noticing a spike in online sales the Monday after Thanksgiving, when people returned to work and used high-speed internet to shop.
Cyber Monday has since grown into its own holiday, often blending with Black Friday to form a five-day shopping frenzy known as Cyber Week. The overlap means shoppers get multiple chances to score discounts, whether they prefer shopping in-store or online.
8. Electronics Dominate the Sales
Every year, the biggest draw of Black Friday is electronics. Flat-screen TVs, gaming consoles, laptops, and smartphones are among the most sought-after items. Retailers use these products as “loss leaders,” offering them at steep discounts to attract customers, who then buy additional items at regular prices.
TVs, in particular, have become symbolic of the holiday. Some people even measure the success of their Black Friday shopping trip by whether they managed to grab a discounted television. The tradition shows no sign of slowing down.
9. Black Friday Keeps Breaking Records
Black Friday isn’t just a shopping day, it’s a record-setting event. Each year, spending totals grow, both online and in-store. For example, in 2023, U.S. shoppers spent over $9 billion online in a single day. Retailers continue to push boundaries, offering bigger and more creative deals to outdo the competition.
The momentum is clear: Black Friday is no longer just about holiday shopping, it’s a barometer of consumer confidence and spending habits.
10. Not Everyone Embraces Black Friday
For every person who wakes up at 5 a.m. to chase a bargain, there’s someone who rejects the consumerism of Black Friday altogether. Movements like “Buy Nothing Day” encourage people to focus on family or community instead of shopping. Others prefer to wait for Small Business Saturday, which highlights local shops and independent makers.
This resistance shows that while Black Friday dominates retail, it’s not for everyone. Still, its impact on culture, business, and the economy is undeniable.
Conclusion: A Holiday of Surprises
From its surprising origins and global expansion to quirky traditions like clogged sinks and midnight doorbusters, these 10 fun facts about Black Friday prove that the holiday is about far more than just shopping. It’s a cultural event that reflects how people spend, save, and celebrate.
As the shopping landscape shifts online, smart buyers are finding new ways to maximize savings. Whether it’s setting up wish lists, comparing deals across retailers, or using resources like Discount Codez for extra coupons and promo codes, there are always ways to make the most of Black Friday.
So next time you think of Black Friday as just another day of discounts, remember it’s a holiday filled with history, trivia, and plenty of surprises.
FAQ's
Q. Why is it called Black Friday?
The term “Black Friday” originally referred to financial panic in 1869, but later in the 1960s, police in Philadelphia used it to describe post-Thanksgiving chaos. Retailers eventually rebranded it as the time when businesses go from “in the red” (losses) to “in the black” (profits).
Q. Is Black Friday only in the United States?
No, Black Friday has become a global event. Countries like the UK, Canada, Germany, Brazil, and Australia now participate with their own versions of the sale, often lasting several days or even weeks.
Q. Do online shoppers get better deals than in-store shoppers?
Online shopping often matches or beats in-store discounts, with the bonus of convenience and early access. Many shoppers also use Discount Codez coupons to save extra.
Q. What are the most popular products sold on Black Friday?
Electronics dominate the holiday. TVs, gaming consoles, laptops, tablets, and smartphones are usually the top sellers. Retailers use these items as attention-grabbers to bring customers in, knowing they’ll often buy additional products too.
Q. Is Black Friday the best time to shop, or should I wait for Cyber Monday?
Both days offer big savings, but Black Friday is typically best for electronics, home appliances, and large-ticket items. Cyber Monday focuses more on tech accessories, online-exclusive deals, and smaller gadgets.
