2006-11-17 15:21:17 · 28 answers · asked by Anonymous in Entertainment & Music ➔ Polls & Surveys
It is a new convention.
Retailers get "out of the red", a deficit position, and "in the black". It means they have enough cash to pay their debts.
2006-11-17 15:24:35 · answer #1 · answered by Ragnarok 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
[edit] Origin
The first use of this term to describe the day after Thanksgiving is not exactly known. There are two popular theories as to its origin.
[edit] Accounting practice
One theory is that retailers traditionally operated at a financial loss for most of the year (January through November) and made their profit during the holiday season. When this would be recorded in the financial records, common accounting practices use red ink to show negative amounts and black ink would to show positive amounts. Black Friday is the beginning of the period where they would no longer have losses (the red) and instead take in the year's profits (the black).
Look up in the red, in the black in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
[edit] Stress from large crowds
Another theory comes from the fact that shopping experience on this day can be extremely stressful. The term is used as a comparison to the extremely stressful and chaotic experience of Black Thursday or other black days. According to The Word Spy:
2006-11-17 23:26:29 · answer #2 · answered by scottb03gt 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving in the United States, is historically one of the busiest retail shopping days of the year. Many consider it the "official" beginning to the holiday season. Most retailers will open very early and usually provide discount on their products. The date for 2006 is November 24
2006-11-17 23:23:33 · answer #3 · answered by ? 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I know why!(seriously)
It's because stores get A LOT of their money on the day after Thanksgiving. That puts them in the black of the profits chart which is y it's called "Black Friday". Read the link below for a better explaination
2006-11-17 23:24:50 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is the biggest shopping day of the year and when retailers have the opportunity to "get out of the red and back into the black" aka make a profit.
2006-11-17 23:24:36 · answer #5 · answered by Hoops Girl 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Doesn't this have to do with the fact that this day is the biggest shopping day of the year, and until then most stores are usually in the red? This day puts them back in the black.
2006-11-17 23:24:05 · answer #6 · answered by redpillowcase 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
the day where people begin the christmas shopping. which gets hectic. black friday is the first friday after Thanksgiving.
2006-11-17 23:22:44 · answer #7 · answered by LM 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Darn bean counters. They rely way to much on Black Friday to pull them out of the red.
2006-11-17 23:29:49 · answer #8 · answered by Dorkboy 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because the retailers finally get into the black!!! Instead of being in the red!
2006-11-17 23:25:08 · answer #9 · answered by It's just me! 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes that is the day that retail stores start to turn a profit, red ink is used to show a loss and black ink is used to show a profit
2006-11-17 23:24:16 · answer #10 · answered by lewisepalmer 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Because the stores are so busy that their sales go from being in the red (losing money) to being in the black (gaining money).
2006-11-17 23:23:35 · answer #11 · answered by RoZ 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋