Yesterday was Black Friday.
The day after the US Thanksgiving holiday is referred to by some as one of the biggest, if not the biggest, shopping days of the year. According to some reports from the US, “the Thanksgiving weekend can make up as much as 10 percent of all holiday sales.”
Having worked at Tip Top Tailors while putting myself through University, I can confirm that this time of the year is just plain nuts in the retail world. I remember making $1.25 per hour plus 4% commission. Ah the good old days. But I digress.
So in the spirit of Black Friday, I bought myself a new TV today and didn’t leave my couch. That is the beauty of the internet. Why would people rush to Best Buy at 5AM to save a few dollars on a DVD when they can do most of that from home?
As Seth Godin says, “In an always-on internet world, why force people to do something they would ordinarily avoid? Because they like it. It feels special. They are somehow earning the discount. The store creates discomfort and then profits from it.”
Seth is right on but I still never understood that herd mentality. Take a look at what an opening of Best Buy looks like at 5 AM on a Black (Stupid) Friday.
I'm a dad, raconteur, scallywag and drinker of strong black coffee.
