How did the term, “Black Friday” come about?
I have heard Black Monday use to describe the stock market crash in 1987, and Black Thursday for the crash in 1929.
So then, why is it that we now use Black Friday to describe the greatest day of consumer spending of the year? The exact opposite of what I would expect the term to mean.
November 12th, 2010 at 3:03 am
In the business world red means a loss and black means profit in there records.
November 12th, 2010 at 3:24 am
If you are in “the black” you are turning a profit as opposed to to “the red” where you are losing money. Since Friday the day after the Thanksgiving is the biggest shopping day of the year, merchants call it Black Friday because they are usually turning a big profit
November 12th, 2010 at 4:01 am
Just a guess, but I think that the amount of sales on Black Friday ultimately determine weather or not the holiday shopping season is considered a success. They consider them selves in the black as opposed to being in the red and coming up short of their goals.
November 12th, 2010 at 4:38 am
it means there is so much shopping the retailers are no longer in the red but get into the black
November 12th, 2010 at 5:23 am
It’s origin is an accounting term. “In the red” means to be in debt; “in the black” means you’re making more money than you’re spending. So “Black Friday” refers to the amount of money retailers take in, because so many people shop on that day. The retailers are almost always “in the black” the day after Thanksgiving.
I’m not so sure that will happen this year…
November 12th, 2010 at 6:08 am
Because on this day, you’re going to see that majority of the consumers are black.
We just love free stuff, close out sales, and them hook-ups.
That’s my take cause i thought of the same thing.
So is the white house a black house now? lmao
This world is backwards.
God bless man.
November 12th, 2010 at 6:33 am
The original Black Friday occurred in 1869 and refers to a steep drop in a financial market due to prospectors attempted to corner the gold market.
Today, this typically refers to the Friday after Thanksgiving, which is the unofficial start to the holiday shopping season. To retailers, who generally see an upward spike in sales, it’s a day they are sure to be in the “black” rather than in the “red.”