Black Friday looms across the region/nation
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by Jeff Snyder
MOUNT AYR, Iowa — The birthplace of America, the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the current resting place of the Liberty Bell and even the home to the first American flag designer, Betsy Ross; all hail from the hallowed streets of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Each year Thanksgiving falls on the last Thursday of Novsignaling the unofficial “holiday” season start. Employers would often grant the day after Thanksgiving as a paid holiday thereby giving loyal employees the much coveted long weekend.
In the 1950’s-60’s, the Philadelphia Police Department coined the phrase “Black Friday” referring to the chaos that ensued on this day.
City streets were congested and brought to a standstill. Train stations overflowed with people all attempting to ascend on the city to take advantage of the numerous downtown shopping opportunities.
Philadelphia was home to some of the best retailers in the country in those early days. Stores such as John Wannamakers, Gimbles and Strawbridge & Clothier all rolled out the red carpet for holiday shoppers.
As the years went by the negative connotation associated with Black Friday was gradually replaced with a positive vibe ultimately changing from a frustration day, to an almost holiday of it’s own status.
Another theory surrounding the Black Friday moniker revolved around the time of year when retail companies would finally break into the “black” as a result of the huge influx of business on this day.
Which ever version one chooses to ascribe to, the day has a cult like following now, that even extends to the online world.
Shoppers will scour the airwaves hoping to get a glimpse at the incredible deals that stores offer. Some even delay purchases in anticipation of this annual event.
Shoppers have been known to even camp out on the steps of retailers reserving their places in line so as not to be squeezed out of the best deals by fellow bargain hunters.
Retailers have become master of marketing and advertising in anticipation of this day dangling insane price points on big ticket items hoping to lure the unsuspecting into impulse buys that drift from their original shopping targets.
Disciplined shoppers stick to their lists with military precision checking items off as they scurry from isle to isle.
In the end, everybody wins. Retailers get the cash, shoppers get the booty and cops get to sit this one out.
Traditions morph and change with the times even if some appear to break with the norm. In Ringgold County shoppers have not have the options of a Philadelphia to take advantage of but there are plenty of local merchants with holiday windfalls to choose from to make shopping just a little bit easier on this coming Black Friday.
