Close your eyes and think back to 2015 for a second. Now, think back to the rush and excitement of Black Friday in 2015. Or, if you can remember this time, think back to how popular Black Friday was in the 2000s. Think back to standing outside of a store, anxiously awaiting its opening, only to run in and try to find the item you have been wanting on mass sale. Or imagine waking up before the sun to go to the mall and buy the item your mom has been talking about wanting all year, only to find that it is 65% off.
For many, Black Friday provided an adrenaline rush and created memories through its fast-paced shopping experience and annual savings on gifts. The nostalgia attached to those times often compels customers to return and relive their memories. In spite of all this, Black Friday’s reputation and demand have taken a serious plummet, especially in recent years.
Over the past two decades, the charm and popularity of Black Friday has significantly decreased. The excitement and dash surrounding Black Friday have remarkably reduced over the last four to five years.
Black Friday, a hot camaraderie and a favored opportunity to start Christmas shopping, was once called the “Biggest Shopping Day of the Year.” For many, it was an opportunity to bond with their families while shopping.
Regardless, over the last decade, many stores have decreased their Black Friday sales or extended promotions throughout the month or week leading up to the event. With these long sales occurring, Black Friday has lost its magic and exhilaration, reducing how unique the day truly is. Some stores barely have sales or only have sales on select items throughout the store, which is no different than a typical day shopping. Comparatively, stores a decade ago used to have sales of storewide discounts of 60%, rather than the 30% off select items we get today. The day once designated to shopping and saving big has turned into an entire promotional season for many stores.
As the internet continues to grow, activities once in person are now only online. Many people have decided to only participate in Cyber Monday, or stores will offer some of their better price cuts only online. The internet and Cyber Monday being so easily accessible has made many people lose their sense of urgency when it comes to shopping, directly impacting the appeal of Black Friday.
This year, I paid attention to the impact Black Friday had on people. One of my biggest takeaways was that many just wanted to sit at home and shop online. Popular stores in my area that were once crowded were slightly more crowded than on a regular day. Numerous stores I entered had small lines to check out and limited deals. Nobody seemed excited and anxious to try and find the best deal. Instead, everyone acted like it was another day of running errands.
After talking to many of my family members and friends after Black Friday this year, many noted that the stores were only slightly overcrowded. In many of the stores, they found themselves buying fewer items due to many stores having sales they referred to as “subpar” and “lackluster.”
Some people in the past have avoided Black Friday shopping due to the crowds, but this year, that would not have been as large of an issue. In spite of the fact that the magic of Black Friday is gone, this makes some people feel more comfortable shopping and helps some customers have an untroubled and favorable shopping experience.
The familiar thrill associated with Black Friday was scarce this holiday season. The pressing question remains: Will we ever really get it back?
Katie Holloway is a sophomore at UT this year studying psychology. She can be reached at [email protected].
Columns and letters of The Daily Beacon are the views of the individual and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Beacon or the Beacon’s editorial staff.
