Skip the Black Friday Hype

Skip Black Friday: A Smarter Holiday Shopping Strategy

Black Friday, once a day of frenzied shopping, has lost its luster for many consumers. The crowds, the chaos, and the artificial sale prices have led many to reconsider their participation. While it's great to "shop local", Black Friday is one day when it might be best to stay home and plan a better strategy for Holiday shopping.

The term Black Friday was first used to describe the financial crisis in 1869. In the 1950s, it emerged again to describe the high incidence of employees calling in sick to extend their Thanksgiving Day holiday. In the 1960s, it was used by police officers to describe the chaos of shoppers taking advantage of sales the day after Thanksgiving. By the 1970s, the term was widespread and came to mean a time when local businesses financial outlook shifted from being in the red (loss) to black (profit).

Here are some compelling reasons why you might want to skip Black Friday altogether:

The Crowds and Chaos

• Safety: Large crowds can pose safety risks, especially as we've learned that disease can be spread more easily in crowds. As people are pushed together, there is also the potential for tempers to flare up.
• Stress: The hectic atmosphere can be overwhelming and stressful, taking the joy out of holiday shopping.

Artificial Sales

• Teasers: Merchants oftentimes advertise or display specific items at a very low price just to get people in the door. It might be a low-end laptop selling for a few hundred dollars (hint: it's not a very good laptop). Once people are in the store, they are compelled to buy several other items.
• False Discounts: Merchants will slowly raise prices on popular items in the weeks ahead of Black Friday. Then they will mark the item on sale for the price they were charging originally. Since people tend to focus on the discount, they don't notice that the sale price is about the same as the item sold for just a month ago.
• Limited Availability: Popular items may sell out quickly, leaving you with fewer options.

Sustainable Shopping

• Mainly Shopping for Ourselves: While Black Friday sales work on the guise that it's an opportunity to save money on Holiday gifts, most people shop for themselves thinking about the things they would like.
• Clutter: As with all excessive consumption, we end up with clutter. Even if we are gift buying, we should really consider giving a single gift for each recipient that is well thought out instead of multiple gifts that result in clutter.
• Environmental Impact: The excessive consumption associated with Black Friday can contribute to environmental problems.
  
• Ethical Considerations: Consider supporting companies with ethical and sustainable practices.

Cyber Monday - the Black Friday of Online Shopping

• Similar Deals: Cyber Monday often offers comparable deals to Black Friday, without the crowds.
• More Relaxed Shopping: Enjoy a more leisurely shopping experience from the comfort of your home.
  
• Sustainability: Give consideration to items that can be found locally. Go online shopping for ideas and then shop locally on another day to support local business. Call businesses to see if they have what you are looking for to save on fuel and driving.

Alternative Shopping Strategies

• Plan Ahead: Just like Santa Claus, make a list and check it twice. Write down a list of the people you want to give gifts to and then, over time, think about something meaningful for each person. Even gift cards can be meaningful if they are for stores or restaurants that you know the recipient truly enjoy.
• Small Business Saturday: Support local businesses and their unique finds. Their sales will come with more honest prices and better quality items.
• Thrift Stores and Consignment Shops: Discover unique items and even everyday items at a fraction of the cost.
• Online Marketplaces: Explore online platforms like Etsy for handmade and vintage items.
  

By skipping Black Friday, you can avoid the stress and potential pitfalls associated with traditional holiday shopping. Consider alternative strategies that align with your values and preferences.

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I hope this is helpful but please let me know if you have any questions or thoughts.

Sincerely Yours,
Jay

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