Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Black Friday

Next week, as soon as our pumpkin pie dishes have been cleared away from our Thanksgiving dinner table, our thoughts will inevitably turn to the holiday season ahead. Specifically, it will be time to start thinking about how to get the best holiday gifts for our loved ones without spending a fortune. Enter Black Friday- a truly American holiday with roots going back as far as the 1950s, the day after Thanksgiving is famous for being the biggest shopping day of the year! Stores slash prices with reckless abandon, each trying to outdo one another for the best deals in town. Eager consumers line up as soon as their Thanksgiving dinner is finished and wait in line overnight for the chance to score a big-ticket electronic item or hot toy of the year at a deep discount. In recent years, Black Friday has actually started on Thursday, as more and more retailers open their stores to the public on Thanksgiving night to begin the annual buying frenzy. But where did Black Friday come from? Here’s a little history behind modern capitalism’s favorite holiday, so you can impress your friends while you’re waiting in line at 4 AM for a 4K TV at 50 percent off!

Why is it called Black Friday?

You’d think a holiday where shoppers can save untold amounts of money on holiday gifts for their friends and families would have a slightly less morbid-sounding name. After all, “Black Friday” sounds so ominous, like something one would equate with a stock market crash or a dark day in history. Actually, the origin of the name “Black Friday” includes both of those things! The term “Black Friday” was originally used way back  in the 1800s, and did not have anything to do with holiday shopping at all- in fact, the original Black Friday, September 24, 1869, was the day the U.S. gold market crashed, sending the country into financial crisis.

In the 1950s, the term was used to describe the day after Thanksgiving by police officers in Philadelphia, when the annual Army-Navy football game held the Saturday after Thanksgiving would result in a flood of tourists and shoppers to the city. The police would have to work all day, taking no time off, in order to deal with the bedlam and chaos that ensued. By 1961, the Black Friday name had caught on in Philadelphia, with retailers cashing in on the phenomenon by marking down their merchandise considerably for one-day doorbuster sales. Though marketers tried unsuccessfully to change the name to “Big Friday,” so as to make it sound more consumer-friendly and upbeat, the name Black Friday had stuck, and everyone in Philadelphia more or less treated it as a city holiday to kick off the Christmas season.

Black Friday as a concept didn’t spread to the rest of the country until about 1985, which is when retailers came up with the “official” origin of the term- since the day after Thanksgiving is one of the biggest shopping days of the year, it is a chance for stores to get “out of the red and into the black,” meaning that they can turn a profit even if sales have been slow for the year. Since the re-branding of Black Friday took place in the 80s, a decade known for its rampant consumerism, shoppers took to the new spin on the old holiday and used it as an excuse to boost the economy while enjoying tremendous savings. (In reality, the Saturday before Christmas is officially the biggest day of the year for retail sales, but it doesn’t have quite the notoriety that Black Friday does, thanks to the magic of marketing.)

Black Friday has gone on to spawn several other “shopping holidays” based on its popularity, including “Cyber Monday” (the Monday following Thanksgiving where online marketplaces slash their prices for unbelievable deals) as well as “Small Business Saturday/Sunday” (the weekend after Thanksgiving dedicated to supporting local businesses). Like it or not, Black Friday is truly an American tradition, and will be part of our holiday rituals for years to come.

In the market for incredible Black Friday deals on all your favorite brands of appliances? Want to give yourself the gift of a good night’s sleep every night with a great new mattress? Check out the Black Friday savings at Appliance Factory & Mattress Kingdom!

Special thanks to history.com for research on this article.

Black Friday Myths for Retail Appliances

Here are a couple of myths that came up this year during Black Friday. Know these myths now before next year’s Black Friday, so that you can be prepared.

Myth: Black Friday sales begin on Thanksgiving Night or Black Friday

The truth is Black Friday deals start the 1^st week of November and run for the entire month. Many retailers like Appliance Factory & Mattress Kingdom offer a 30 to 60 day price match guarantee. This means we can shop with confidence knowing we will get the best price on any purchase decision we make. There is no need to camp out in line to get the best Black Friday Deals.

Delivery and installation have a finite availability. Demand during Black Friday pushes delivery and/or installation out weeks. If something does go wrong on our 1^st delivery, it can take weeks to get rescheduled. SHOP EARLY!

Myth: There is plenty of stock availability for sale products and Door Busters. 

The truth is demand nation-wide is high and supply is low. We have seen national back orders for appliances last months, if they ever come in at all. Door Busters are low priced items meant to create buzz and traffic. Usually, there are only a couple units per store. Untrained employees oversell and over promise leaving consumers holding the bag. Shop with retailers who have professional sales teams, who not only know the product, but also the availability.

Myth: Making an appliance purchase is easy

There is a huge selection of appliances in every category. There are different features, colors, sizes and applications. Appliances are complex and specialized. They are large, heavy products and come with each their own challenges for design and installation. It can be a long process selecting the right appliances we desire, meet our needs, will function and fit properly in our selected area and are installed properly. Products travel long distances and on many modes of transportation, sometimes creating damage. Other issues: appliances having alarming high dead on arrival issues. 3-6% off all appliances are dead on arrival. Between in box damage and DOA products, the reordering and redelivering can ruin last minute plans for the Holidays.

Pricing is confusing! There are so many deals and promotions that include buy more save more, manufacturer rebates, exclusive rebates, financing options, etc, working with a professional sales team can save us time, money and huge frustrations!

Keys to a successful appliance purchase during Black Friday

1. Don’t wait! Buy early! Deals are the same on November 5^th as they are on Black Friday.
2. Shop with retailers who have a 30 day or more price match policy so you are guaranteed the best price.
3. Shop with retailers who specialize in appliances and have a professional sales team who understands the product, your needs and product availability. They will better understand how to save you time, money and frustration. 

Can't wait until next Black Friday's great deals? That's okay, we have great deals going on all year round.

Thanksgiving Craft- Paper Plate Turkey

Your kids will love making this adorable craft while watching the big parade or while you’re busy cooking Thanksgiving dinner. You’ll love how easy it is!

What You’ll Need:

• Small paper plates
• Large paper plates
• “Googly” eyes, large
• Construction paper, assorted
• Tissue paper, assorted
• Brown tempera paint

Directions:

• In advance of the project, have your child paint the large and small paper plates brown using tempera paint. Allow at least an hour to dry.
• Cut construction paper in assorted colors into oblong “feather” shapes. Also use construction paper to cut small yellow squares which will be folded on the diagonal and used for the turkey’s beak, orange feet, and a red wattle.
• Cut assorted tissue paper into small squares.

• Have your child arrange and glue the construction paper feathers  and turkey feet to the large paper plate, facing up. Once dry, turn paper plate over and have your child glue the small paper plate, face down, to the lower half of the large paper plate.
• Let your child glue on googly eyes, yellow construction paper beak, and red wattle.
• Show your child how to roll tissue paper squares into small balls and glue onto corresponding colored construction paper feathers- red to red, blue to blue, and so on. Your child will have fun matching the colors!
• Allow to dry for at least one hour before displaying prominently and proudly on the fridge or front door. Happy Thanksgiving!

Beautiful and Easy DIY Thanksgiving Decorations

This Thanksgiving, make sure your home is as warm and welcoming as the delicious feast you have prepared for your loved ones! We have scoured the Internet for the simplest yet most delightful ideas for making your home ready for the festive family gathering.

Thanksgiving Message Board

Cut out leaves from construction paper in fall colors, and have dinner guests write one thing they are thankful for on each leaf, then tack it to a cork or linen bulletin board. (Bonus points for framing the message board to make it more decorative.) Not only is this meaningful craft a nice breaker for extended family and other dinner guests, but it can also serve as a keepsake each year.

Festive Fall TablescapeSource: HGTV

Use an assortment of pillar candles, foam pumpkins, beans, peas and lentils to make a gorgeous table display that honors the humble beginnings of the very first Thanksgiving. Follow this tutorial to wrap adhesive around your candles and pumpkins and then roll the objects in the assorted legumes for a centerpiece that is as pleasing to the touch as it is to the eye.

Fall Hurricane VasesSource: Amanda Jane Brown

Love the look of the seeds and beans but don’t have the time or artistic ability to pull it off? Fear not- a beautiful glass hurricane vase filled with layers of dried peas, beans and corn in contrasting colors is a lovely and understated way to pay tribute to the bounty of the season. Tie with a piece of jute for a rustic touch.

Precious Place CardsSource: Better Homes and Gardens

Time to bust out those mini pumpkins and put them to good use at the dinner table! Attach a dinner guest’s name to each mini pumpkin with a pin, then place at the table. You can either hand-letter the little name cards, let one of your kids use their adorable handwriting to write the names, or print out the labels using your computer’s word-processing software. Not only will Aunt Shirley know where to sit, but the table will look adorable!

Apple CandlesSource: BuzzFeed

Hollow out the core of a medium to large apple and replace with a tealight candle for a quick, aromatic and unique fall decoration that will delight and impress everyone at your gathering.

Do you have any fun and festive ideas for Thanksgiving décor? Please share in the comments below.

Sweet Potato Casserole

The Best Sweet Potato Casserole EVER!!!

It’s that time of year again - Thanksgiving is around the corner, fall is in full swing, and sweet potato recipes are everywhere. Look no further for a recipe to delight and impress your family and friends this Thanksgiving- this simple, delicious dish has been in my family for a long time, and is sure to become a family tradition in your home as well!

Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 40-50 minutes

Ingredients:

Casserole-

3 cups (2-3) cooked, mashed sweet potatoes, cooled (For best results, cook and mash potatoes at least

24 hours prior to adding to casserole)

1 cup packed brown sugar

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1 tsp. vanilla

½ cup milk

½ cup melted butter

Topping-

½ cup brown sugar

1/3 cup flour

1/3 cup melted butter

1 cup chopped pecans

Directions:

Heat the oven to 350° F. Butter a 2-quart casserole or baking dish, or spray with cooking spray.

In a large bowl combine mashed sweet potatoes with 1 cup of brown sugar, eggs, vanilla, milk, and 1/2

cup of melted butter. Blend thoroughly until mixture is the consistency of cottage cheese; spoon the

mixture into the prepared baking dish.

In another bowl combine the topping ingredients and sprinkle over top of the sweet potato mixture.

Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, until topping is browned. Let stand for 5-10 minutes prior to serving.

Get set to enjoy ALL the compliments!