Black Friday is an annual shopping event held on the Friday after Thanksgiving in the United States. Retailers offer major discounts across furniture, technology, fashion and homeware, and the event has become one of the biggest shopping periods of the year in the UK. The term originated in Philadelphia during the 1960s and has since become associated with the start of the Christmas shopping season.
What Is Black Friday?
Black Friday occurs every year on the day after Thanksgiving in the US (the fourth Friday in November). It's marked by retailers offering large discounts on products, similar to the UK tradition of the 'Boxing Day Sales'. It's widely considered to be the busiest shopping period of the year.
Today, Black Friday is a global retail event that takes place every November. While it traditionally lasted for just one day, many retailers now run Black Friday sales throughout the week or even the entire month. Shoppers often use the event to buy furniture, home accessories, electronics and Christmas gifts at reduced prices ahead of the festive season. But how did it come about?
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The Origins Of Black Friday
Macy's flagship store, Herald Square, New York, 1907; image credit: Irving Underhill via Wikipedia (public domain)
Originating from a US tradition, the earliest recorded reference to "Black Friday" comes from Philadelphia in 1961. It was used to describe the heavy traffic and busy streets the day after Thanksgiving. However, the idea of post-Thanksgiving sales existed as far back as the 1920s when the department store Macy's saw the business potential and advertised discounts alongside their annual Thanksgiving Day parade.
Other explanations for the specific phrase have also surfaced over the years. Retailers struggling throughout the year and making a loss were described as being "in the red". However, on that Friday after Thanksgiving, losses began to turn into profits, thus going from being "in the red" to "in the black".
In the UK, the term was often attributed to the final pay day (often a Friday) before Christmas, leading to crowds and boisterous behaviour in pubs. But, with the popularisation of the American sales-in-November concept, the UK has adopted that understanding of the phrase.
How Black Friday Changed Shopping Habits
Black Friday has transformed the way consumers shop for Christmas. Instead of waiting for traditional Boxing Day sales, many shoppers now use Black Friday discounts to purchase furniture, gifts and household essentials weeks before Christmas. The growth of online shopping has also made it easier than ever to compare prices and find deals from retailers across the UK.
In The UK
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The UK was becoming familiar with the concept of Black Friday via the internet and popular media. But, it was Amazon, an American-founded company, that really introduced the idea to the UK mainstream in 2010. In 2011, supermarket chain Asda (owned by American retailer Walmart) offered in-store deals.
Since then, Black Friday has grown exponentially, largely driven by internet shopping and a global market. In fact, online shopping is such a huge part of it all that online-only Cyber Monday sales are now a thing. Black Friday has become one of the biggest online shopping events in the UK. Retailers across furniture, fashion, technology and homeware sectors regularly launch exclusive discounts, while online shoppers can compare deals across multiple retailers from home.
(source: Black Friday in the UK: Statistics for 2023)
A Sign Of The Times
With the impact of the pandemic and the Cost of Living Crisis affecting households all over the UK, many shoppers are looking for a deal and retailers are waiting to oblige! Black Friday in the UK isn't just about a single day anymore. It can span an entire week, or even the whole month of November! It looks like it's here to stay.
Black Friday At Furniturebox
Looking for the best Black Friday furniture deals? At Furniturebox, you'll find discounts across dining room, living room furniture, bedroom furniture and home accessories throughout our Black Friday sale. Whether you're preparing your home for Christmas guests or planning a complete room refresh, you'll discover stylish furniture at great-value prices, with free next-day delivery available on hundreds of products.
Where Next?
We love seeing how our customers style their Furniturebox products, so be sure to follow us on Insta and tag us in your product pics! You can follow us on Pinterest too, where we've got heaps of ideas and inspiration.
