Like Christmas, Black Friday seems to get bigger and bigger every year. Although primarily a U.S. tradition, Black Friday has become a notable shopping event in Canada as well.
In cities like Ottawa, many retailers participate, offering deals that attract both locals and visitors. Black Friday has become a widely recognized commercial event. But how come it’s over here in Canada when it’s very much a US tradition? Let’s look into the history of Black Friday and find out.
Over in the US, Thanksgiving has long fallen on the fourth Thursday of November. The first use of the term ‘Black Friday’ can be traced back to 1951, when it referred to large numbers of people taking a day off work ‘sick’ on the Friday after Thanksgiving.
By the 1980s, the term ‘Black Friday’ had become more positive. It now referred to stores being in the black (i.e. making money) rather than being in the red, thanks to increased sales on the Friday after Thanksgiving.
It wasn’t until the mid-2000s that Black Friday began developing a solid presence in pop culture and general knowledge. The ever-growing importance of Christmas helped Black Friday generate more money each year as people used the day of sales to make Christmas purchases.
Technology products are among the most sought-after categories during Black Friday sales. This should come as no surprise given that computers, phones, gaming consoles and other devices can be expensive and the Black Friday discounts make them more accessible.
This technology is essential for many aspects of modern life, which is why it’s so popular with Black Friday shoppers. From watching TV shows and films to playing video games and online gambling, tech facilitates and enhances our leisure time.
So how did Black Friday come over to Canada? Up until the early 2000s, Canadian stores didn’t take part in the tradition. People who lived close to the US border would cross it to visit US stores and buy discounted goods.
Over the next few years, more and more Canadians went to the US to take advantage of the reduced prices. It wasn’t until around 2010 that Canadian stores started offering their own discounts on the day after Thanksgiving.
Canadian retailers began offering Black Friday promotions to retain local shoppers and compete with U.S. retailers. By creating their own promotions, they encouraged many Canadian shoppers to stay in the country on Black Friday and spend their money at local and national stores instead of US ones.
Black Friday offers opportunities to find significant discounts on a wide range of products. Many retailers offer substantial online discounts, allowing shoppers to take advantage of deals from home.
Photos: Pixabay
