Why is the day after Thanksgiving called Black Friday and why does everything go on sale?

Question

I'm just curious why is The day after Thanksgiving called Black Friday and why does everything like go on sale its kind of akward to me.

Answer 1

Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving in the United States, marks the beginning of the traditional Christmas shopping season, although retailers often decorate for the Christmas season weeks before-hand. Many retailers open very early (typically 5 A.M.) and offer doorbuster deals and loss leaders to draw people to their stores. Although the day after Thanksgiving has served as the unofficial beginning of the Christmas season for decades, the term "Black Friday" has been traced back only to the 1970s and did not achieve widespread popularity until about 2002.

Black Friday is frequently but erroneously referred to in the media as the busiest retail shopping day of the year. While it has been the busiest day in terms of customer traffic,[1][2] in terms of actual sales volume Black Friday is usually the fifth to tenth busiest day.[3] The busiest retail shopping day of the year in the United States (in terms of sales) is invariably in the week before Christmas, usually the Saturday before Christmas.[4]

Some merchants label the day after Thanksgiving Black Friday because business today can mean the difference between red ink and black on the ledgers. But this year hefty sales are vital not only to the stores but to the entire economy.

Because the heavy traffic etymology is contemporaneous with the earliest known use of the term, while the black ink theory apparently was not suggested until several years later, the accounting practice origin is unlikely to be correct. However, this assessment could change if significantly earlier links of "Black Friday" to retailers' profitability are found.


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Answer 2

It is typically called "black friday" because this is the day that retail companies go into the "black", also meaning that they make a huge profit; instead of being in the "red". It also is the kick off of the Holiday season shopping which also adds a profit for retail companies. The sales draw the shoppers in, which again produces a profit.

Answer 3

Its called black friday because the profits of the merchendisers go down right before thanksgiving that is when they are in the red (less profits). So they put everything on sale, so that their profits on their charts will go back into the black range (profits!). Hope this is a good explenation. :)

Answer 4

the "sale items" are not on sale the items are marked up months in advance than around near the end of the year the stores markdown items to clear out the stock for inventory. this is very common through out the retail industry,.. Here is the best Inside secret , really the best time to shop is in the first two months of the year.

Answer 5

It is called "black friday" for accounting reasons. If a company is "in the red" it means that they are losing money. If they are "in the black", it essentially means that they are making a profit. So on "black friday", the retailers all make profits due to volume of items sold (that is why the prices are so low on some things).

Answer 6

almost every store has sales on black friday. I've found over the years the electronics have the best deals, but clothing stores do offer stores. Macys, aeropostale, old navy, target, best buy, circuit city all have sales, as do most other department stores.

Answer 7

red in accounting means negative cashflow. Black Friday is when most stores turn from being in the red to being in the black! Profits! Sales - because stores are competing to bring in more customers. There's money to be made!

Answer 8

Everything goes on sale because they are trying to get rid of old summer clothes and bring in new winter clothes for December, January, and Feb.

Answer 9

biggest sales opportunity black because it gets their sales out of the red

Answer 10

Does this mean that 'Thanksgiving' always falls on a Thursday?