Black Friday has been around for decades, becoming a holiday people look forward too even more so than Thanksgiving itself. The holiday featured huge markdowns on the biggest stores, bringing people from all over to certain department stores; including some camping outside overnight to be the first ones inside. However, in recent years Black Friday sales are less than they once were.
When the tradition started, consumers could find deals up to 50% off but recently they are found to be much lower, in the 20-30% range. For example, looking at some top brands that feature Black Friday ‘deals,’ Bed Bath & Beyond – 25% off, JBL – 30% off, Clinique – 30% off, American Eagle – 30% off, and Samsung Appliances – 15%. Oftentimes companies raise their prices and then include a markdown to make their sales appear better, but even with 20-40% off, prices are still high.
It was reported by NBC News, that “shoppers expect to spend an average of $1,455,” with “70% [of people] saying they’ll shop Black Friday weekend.” It appears that many are still planning on shopping, but “with analyst expectations that, high inflation an ever-growing shopping window and simple fatigue would weigh on consumers,” The Washington Post reports.
High inflation has specifically effected daily purchases; people are now having to spend more on necessities, such as gas and groceries. This has caused a ripple effect as to how much people can spend during the holiday season. Having worse Black Friday deals, along with the long term effects of the pandemic in the workforce, and people turning to online shopping more has certainly decreased the size of crowds in the stores.
Many students at Cortland have shared their own thoughts on their Black Friday experiences and plans for this year.
“I used to go Black Friday shopping every year with my family,” Cortland student, Jennifer Dwyer says, “But the past two years we have started to just buy things online instead. It is a lot easier and a lot of times we find better deals than we would if we went to the store.”
“My family has always considered Black Friday and Cyber Monday a huge weekend,” another current student at Cortland says, “I think my mom looked more forward to it than anyone but would always drag our whole family out with her.”
Black Friday is notorious for the crazy crowds storming the stores and having to deal with angry and aggressive consumers. College age students were born as digital natives, meaning they have been brought up surrounded by digital technology. This may be a factor when considering the high rise in online shopping.
Online shopping is more available than ever. Now people can shop through just about any social platform, not just the brands site. Whether it be Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok, companies have expanded their advertisements to reach a larger audience and made themselves more available.
It is important to remember the true meaning of the holiday season. It is not about the presents, it is about spending time with friends and family.