As many celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday and the time with family, for millions of workers nationwide one dark inevitability lingers in the back of their minds as they count down the hours: Black Friday.
Black Friday is the one day where most stores in America, big or small, put on their best deals of the year in order to start off the holiday season. Major stores in major cities rack in millions of dollars in income in mere hours, but even for smaller branches the stress still exists.
“Black Friday is definitely the most anxious time to work,” senior Shaniah Richardson said. “With all the people that come in and all the sales we have, it feels like we’re always running around trying to do one hundred things at once.”
Richardson works at Old Navy, a store which is often swarming with customers from the minute they open their doors.
Those waiting at the doors are the customers–who often look forward to this day with excitement.
“I used to go shopping with my mom on Black Friday all the time as a kid,” senior Evan Holman said. “We’d go to Walmart and Target mostly, that’s when we’d buy Christmas gifts for everyone and I’d usually get a gift early since I helped.”
The average shopper spends upwards of $400 on Black Friday, making it the number one shopping day of the fiscal year.
With most stores running deals the course of the entire weekend, Black Friday isn’t the only day you can save big. With the advent of Cyber Monday and online shopping, the savings can continue even after the physical stores lock their doors.
“Ever since COVID, my mom really just shops online now,” Holman said. “It’s the same deals as online but she feels better knowing she doesn’t have to get in the mess of the crowds.”
