What is Black Friday?

Black Friday is a popular shopping event that takes place annually on the day after Thanksgiving Day in the United States, which is the fourth Thursday of November. It marks the beginning of the Christmas shopping season and is often associated with significant discounts and promotions offered by retailers. 

While the exact origin of the term "Black Friday" is not definitively clear, there are a few theories about its roots. One widely accepted theory is that the name "Black Friday" originated in the 1960s in Philadelphia. It was used by the Philadelphia Police Department to describe the heavy and disruptive pedestrian and vehicle traffic that occurred on the day after Thanksgiving. 

The term was later popularized to describe the day when retailers traditionally moved from being in the "red" (operating at a loss) to being in the "black" (turning a profit) due to the increased holiday shopping. Another theory links the term to 19th-century financial crises. In this context, "Black Friday" referred to a day of financial panic in 1869 and, later, to a stock market crash in 1929.

Regardless of its exact origin, Black Friday has evolved into a major shopping phenomenon not only in the United States but also in Sunny South Africa. It often involves early morning openings, doorbuster deals, and large crowds of shoppers seeking discounts both in physical stores and online. Over time, the concept has expanded to include other shopping days like Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, and the overall Cyber Week.

The Black Friday deals advertisements have started!

Makro and Game reveal first Black Friday 2023 deals:

Massmart has disclosed its Black Friday strategies for the current year, unveiling initial promotions from Builders, Game, and Makro.In response to consumer insights, the company has opted to reintroduce extended Black Friday promotions throughout the month at its largest stores.

According to Andrew Stein, Massmart's Chief Customer Officer, the decision to extend the promotional period aims to afford customers more time to assess and confirm the value of the offers they are considering.

Shop Black Friday at Builders:

Herman Venter, the Chief Merchandise Officer at Massmart, urged shoppers to leverage price comparison tools before finalizing their Black Friday purchases this year. He emphasized that the company's merchandising team had dedicated over a year to ensuring the most competitive prices across all stocked items at the participating stores.

All the Black Friday deals will be accessible both online and in-store, subject to availability.

Shop Black Friday at Game:

Massmart has reported findings from its research, indicating heightened demand for specific product categories during this year's Black Friday. Electronics, computers, TVs, audio systems, groceries, and beverages emerged as the most sought-after items.Furthermore, the company has identified a notable demand for essential commodities such as tinned food, rice, coffee, sugar, washing powder, and milk.

Shop Black Friday at Makro:

Massmart has advised customers to consider utilizing the OneCart on-demand shipping service for purchasing items from various retailers, including Game and Makro. For online shoppers at Builders, Game, and Makro stores, a convenient option this year is the availability of online click-and-collect. This service is extended to all Makro and Builders stores, as well as 67 Game stores.

Massmart highlighted that nearly 98% of online click-and-collect orders from Makro are prepared for next-day collection.

Black Friday specials started gaining popularity in South Africa around 2014. While the concept of Black Friday originated in the United States, South African retailers began adopting the practice as a way to kick off the holiday shopping season and attract customers with discounted prices. 

The trend caught on quickly, and Black Friday has since become a major shopping event in the country. South African retailers across various industries, including electronics, fashion, and home goods, started offering special promotions and discounts to capitalize on the consumer excitement around Black Friday. 

The event has continued to grow in popularity, with both physical stores and online retailers participating in the annual shopping extravaganza.It's worth noting that while Black Friday is a global phenomenon, the specific adoption and growth of Black Friday specials in South Africa may vary from year to year and depend on consumer trends, marketing strategies, and economic factors.