It is the shopping event of the year: Black Friday! Or Black Month, because there are discounts throughout November. Whether it’s electronics, fashion, beauty, or home deals – Black Friday is guaranteed to be the right deal. We tell you what you need to know about a super shopping event.
Everything you need to know about Black Friday
Cyber Monday, Black Week, Black Friday – what is that actually?
The name “Black Friday” comes from the USA and refers to the Friday after Thanksgiving, which falls there every year on the last Thursday in November. The so-called Black Friday is the beginning of the Christmas business and attracts Black Friday with incredible deals, discounts and offers. Many Americans take the extra day off and go on an extreme shopping spree.
Traditionally, Black Friday comes after Cyber Monday. Originally, this Monday was the online answer to Black Friday, which mainly took place in brick-and-mortar retail. As the name suggests, Cyber Monday focused on online trading. Nowadays the lines are blurred and you can shop both online and offline on both days.
And what connects the two days? That’s right, the Black Week. In recent years, shops have been starting their offers earlier and earlier, building up to a veritable discount battle. Roughly one can say that the Black Week offers to start on the Monday before Black Friday and end with Cyber Monday. However, it is worth keeping your eyes open a few days in advance.
What Does “Black Friday” Mean?
There are various theories as to why the popular event is called the way it is. The term “Black Friday” first appeared with the stock market crash of 1929. However, the shopping day itself has nothing to do with it.
The 3 most popular shopping day naming theories are:
- The name was coined by an optical illusion: the shopping day draws a lot of people into the shops, which from a distance look like a black mass.
- The name derives from the profits: Black numbers are written on said Friday.
- The name was coined by the Philadelphia Police in the 1960s: they used “Black Friday” to describe the chaos in the city created by shopaholics.
Which of the events shaped the name – or whether it goes back to something completely different – is still up for debate and the mystery will probably never be fully resolved.
How long has Black Friday existed in Germany?
First Black Friday deals in United States were in 1986. At that time, Apple brought the proven concept across the pond. In the following year, electronics shops like Amazon in particular jumped on the bandwagon, which meant that customers initially perceived the day as a pure Amazon day.
Since 2013, shops from other areas such as fashion, beauty, sports or even travel have increasingly had Black Week offers.
Black Friday – who is participating?
Many believe that Black Friday is one big Amazon event. After all, Amazon was one of the first shops to bring the event to Germany. Amazon can also be credited with expanding Black Friday into Black Week. At Amazon, users will find great bargains from all categories throughout the week. However, their own products, such as the Echo or the Kindle, are particularly cheap.
In the meantime, however, every shop is probably celebrating Friday, Cyber Monday or the entire Black Week – regardless of what it offers. Whether fashion, cosmetics, sporting goods or even travel, (almost) everyone organizes a huge shopping event.
You can look forward to Black Friday deals at these shops in 2022:
- Saturn
- Solo Stove
- Steve Madden
- Amazon
- Media market
- notebooksbilliger.de
- Apple
- ALTERNATE
- Mindfactory
- Zalando
- Zara
- OTTO
- Ooni
- Douglas
- Bottles
- AIDA
Is Black Friday worth it?
So now you know what Black Week is all about and what to expect. But you’re probably wondering if Black Week is worth it. We say: yes – but with a few caveats!
Yes, because there are really bad Black Friday deals during Black Week. No, because there are many black sheep who use the day to push “fake discounts”. They show the recommended retail price, which is usually much higher than the normal price. So it seems as if the products are heavily reduced – even if they are in fact not. Therefore: Not all Black Week offers are bargains.
The be-all and end-all of Black Week is research. Think about what you need in advance and research current prices. Compare offers during Black Week and find the biggest discount. You should also be aware of hidden costs such as delivery costs and fees for payment methods. And last but not least: Use vouchers. Find the best coupons, discounts and offers throughout Black Week right here on the site.
