The Complete Guide to Black Friday 2024: What Every Merchant Needs to Know

What does Black Friday mean for different stakeholders?

• For Shoppers: Access to the year's biggest discounts and deals
• For Retailers: Highest revenue potential of the calendar year
• For Ecommerce: Peak online traffic and conversion opportunity
• For Economy: Major indicator of consumer spending trends

Statistics say:

• 2023 online sales: $9.8 billion in a single day
• Average discount: 30-50% off regular prices
• Mobile shopping: 48% of all Black Friday purchases

Where Did Black Friday Originate? Tracing the Historical Roots

Where did Black Friday come from? The tradition has fascinating historical roots dating back to the 1960s in Philadelphia. Let's explore the complete timeline:

📅 Black Friday Origin Timeline:

Year	Significance
1869	First use of term (Financial Crisis)
1960s	Modern usage by Philadelphia Police
1975	Term appears in national media
1980s	Retail industry adoption
1990s	Nationwide phenomenon begins
2000s	Online shopping integration
2010s	Global expansion
2020s	Digital transformation

Why Is It Called Black Friday? The Story Behind the Name

If you're wondering "why do they call it Black Friday" or "how did Black Friday get its name," there are two widely recognized explanations:

1. The Philadelphia Origin Story:
   • Heavy traffic and crowded sidewalks created chaos
   • Police officers worked extra-long shifts
   • The term "black" referred to the difficult nature of the day
   • Local merchants initially resisted the negative connotation
2. The Retail Profit Theory:
   • Accounting practices use red ink for losses
   • Black ink indicates profit
   • Holiday shopping moved businesses "into the black"
   • This explanation gained popularity in the 1980s

Why is Black Friday called Black Friday in modern context?

• Represents profitable period for retailers
• Marks transition from red to black in financial books
• Symbolizes the start of holiday shopping season

When Did Black Friday Become a Thing? The Evolution

The transformation from local phenomenon to global shopping event:

Early Stage (1960s-1970s):

• Limited to Philadelphia area
• Primarily brick-and-mortar focus
• Local media coverage only

Growth Period (1980s-1990s):

• National recognition
• Major retailer participation
• Extended shopping hours begin

Digital Transformation (2000s-Present):

• Online shopping integration
• International adoption
• Mobile commerce growth

When is Black Friday 2024? Key Dates and Timeline

For merchants planning their holiday strategy, here's when Black Friday 2024 and related events occur:

📆 BFCM 2024 Calendar:

• Thanksgiving: November 28, 2024
• Black Friday: November 29, 2024
• Small Business Saturday: November 30, 2024
• Cyber Sunday: December 1, 2024
• Cyber Monday: December 2, 2024

Planning Timeline for Merchants:

Timeframe	Action Items
August	Strategy Development
September	Content Creation
October	Technical Preparation
November	Campaign Launch
BFCM Weekend	Active Management
December	Extended Sales

What Day is Black Friday? Understanding the Pattern

Black Friday consistently falls on specific dates:

• Always follows U.S. Thanksgiving
• Fourth Friday of November
• Between November 23-29 each year
• 2024 date: November 29

How Long Does Black Friday Last? Modern Duration

How long do Black Friday sales last in the current retail landscape?

Extended Timeline:

Pre-Black Friday: 2-3 weeks
Main Event: 4 days
Cyber Week: 7 days
Extended Promos: Up to 2 weeks

Modern BFCM Duration Breakdown:

1. Pre-Black Friday
   • Early bird specials
   • Preview sales
   • VIP access events
2. Core BFCM Period
   • Black Friday (24 hours)
   • Weekend sales
   • Cyber Monday
3. Extended Period
   • Cyber Week deals
   • Last-chance offers
   • Holiday promotions

When Does Black Friday Start and When Does It End?

Digital Commerce Hours:

• Online Start: 12:00 AM Friday
• In-Store Start: Varies by retailer
• Peak Hours: 6 AM - 10 PM Friday
• End Time: Midnight Monday (traditional)
• Extended: Through Cyber Week

What Time Do Stores Open on Black Friday?

Store Opening Times Comparison:

Store Type	Opening Time	Peak Traffic	Notes
Online	12:00 AM	6 AM - 10 AM	Heavy server load
Big Box	5:00 AM	8 AM - 2 PM	Door busters
Mall	6:00 AM	10 AM - 4 PM	Extended hours
Local	7:00 AM	11 AM - 3 PM	Varies

Merchant Preparation Guide

Success Checklist:

• Website performance optimization
• Mobile responsiveness testing
• Content strategy development
• Collection page optimization
• Automated marketing setup
• Inventory management planning

Coming Next: Discover how to automate your BFCM content creation and optimize your collections for maximum holiday sales.