FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2021 - “BLACK FRIDAY”

 FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2021 - “BLACK FRIDAY”

Tis the day to go SHOPPING!!

“Black Friday refers to the day after the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday, which has also traditionally been a holiday itself for many employees. It is typically a day full of special shopping deals and big discounts and is considered the beginning of the holiday shopping season.

The sales made on Black Friday are often thought of as a litmus test for the overall economic condition of the country and a way for economists to measure the confidence of the average American when it comes to discretionary spending. Those who share the assumption that spending drives economic activity view lower Black Friday sales figures as a harbinger of slower growth.”  Black Friday Definition (investopedia.com)

I probably won’t go shopping on Black Friday this year.  As per my last few days of blogs, I really don’t need anything - and I tend to ignore my “wants”.  (Plus I'm at my sister's house)

I have gone shopping on Black Friday before (but mostly as the driver).  My wife perused the newspaper to see what specials were ‘hot’.  

I do like to shop (believe it or not!!!).  But, my closet is full, my kitchen shelves are full.  My living room and bedroom are full.  It is at a point where I don’t need anything.  (Okay, yes there are things that I would “like” (want) - maybe a new pair of athletic shoes - but going shopping for athletic shoes on Black Friday?  Nah!!

(And, behind the chaos that is my brain, I still think about that television set that I was given that sits unused in my bedroom.  I don’t think I want to give over control of my brain to that thing.)

I was reading that for many retailers about 30% of their yearly income comes from the holiday season.  This year Thanksgiving is on November 25th, and Christmas is (still) on December 25th - so in one month, a sizeable chunk of sales occur.  With twelve months in a year, one month would be about 1/12th of a year (or about 8.33%) - so a month with 30% of annual income becomes worth about three months (okay - just using math!!!).

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I worked the Holiday season the first year after retirement.  I was in customer service at a Kohls’ department store.  My wife loved that as twice during the holiday season the store had “family and friends” sales where employees and families got about 30% off merchandise. 

I think my biggest mistake working in customer service that year was the lady who wanted to return a pair of shoes.  (By the way, management had told me to be nice - retaining customers was important).  She put the shoes on the counter and yes, they were scuffed and worn.  She went to the shoe department and brought back a comparable pair and we did the exchange.  Later a manager looked over the shoes and said “These really were worn down”, and concluded the lady had tricked us (or, had tricked me!!)   Others came in and “bought” lots of clothes - and took them home for the reluctant shoppers to try them on, and then brought the ones they didn’t want back.  (Can you picture a shopper buying (say) twelve items and then returning ten items?_

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KAREN’S RULES FOR BLACK FRIDAY

Black Friday shopping should be a competitive sport - maybe even an Olympic sport (or on some TV shows like “Shop til you drop”) You should be certified as a “Black Belt Shopper”.

In some respects, I slightly resent the Black Friday sales that aren’t on Black Friday.  Some t stores started Black Friday sales two weeks before Black Friday.  A bit tongue-in-cheek - that’s kind of like cheating - Black Friday IS the day after Thanksgiving. 

How to win on Black Friday?

What good are Black Friday sales without getting up at 4:30 to be at the stores at 5:00 a.m.?  What good is it to go shopping without the crowds, and lines?  Cmon on - “When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping”!!! 

It should be a rigorous event - planning out the shopping.  You can go a few days early and layout your path - first to electronics for the televisions and other electronic stuff, then to the toys, then to the home goods department, 

And, if a shopper can get to three stores in an hour, they get points.

If they PURCHASE any amount over $100, but with savings of at least $100, they get points.

If they can be civil after being in a checkout line for twenty minutes, they get points.

If they can successfully navigate Black Friday for at least eight years out of ten, they can retire as an “Undefeated Black Friday Champion”!!

Judges may need to review shopping videos to verify successful shopping.

(In certain situations, it might mean a slight relaxing of the be nice/be kind/love win rules - to win at Black Friday shopping!!!)

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And, adding insult to shopping “injustice” - you can buy most things online - BOO, HISS, UNFAIR.  If you are going to win that “Shopper of the Year” (or Best Black Friday Shopper award), you have to get out and push and shove and prove you are a professional shopper!!!

Cmon - that isn’t even fair in the game of shopping - and especially in the spirit of Black Friday shopping.  Not shopping in retail stores is like eating hamburgers on Thanksgiving.  

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To those that are going shopping, reflect on how it used to be - guts and glory on the “playing field” - go for the gold!!!  Now you can sit in your pajamas and click your way through - not much fun in that!!!

(And, for my friends in northern areas, getting up at 4:30, getting your coats, boots, gloves on, and driving in a cold (freezing) car to a mall - that also gets extra points!!!)

To my shopping friends!!  Good Luck!!!

LOVE WINS!!!

Karen