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Gifts for all occasions in the Galleria! The "What is the Deal?" Deal-of-the-Week: 
November 28, 2004 What is the Deal with Black Friday? By Jan A. Larson When I first heard that the Friday following Thanksgiving was referred to as "Black Friday," the only thing I could think of was that it referred to some sort of holiday shopping calamity of days gone by, much as "Black Thursday" and "Black Monday" refer to the stock market crashes of 1929 and 1987, respectively. It was only recently that I learned that this day is sometimes called "Black Friday" in the retailing industry because it has been known to push retailers into profitability (the "black") for the year. I must admit that I did not, have not and have no plans to ever help retailers push their books into the black on the Friday following Thanksgiving. First of all, after a full day of eating and football on Thanksgiving Day, there is very little incentive for me to stand in line outside of a mall or other store at 6:00 a.m. (or earlier) the next day waiting to save a few bucks buying something for someone that doesn't need or want the gift that I may be buying. Second, there are football games on television on Black Friday too. Third, I'm not a fan of traffic or lines so can't imagine putting myself in a situation where both are inevitable. Finally, there is no way I could hope to compete with the shopping commandoes that arrive at 4:00 a.m. armed with lists of everything that little Billy and Sally as well as Aunt Gertrude and Uncle Zeke are going to get for Christmas whether they want them or not. Woe to the unwary amateur shopper that gets between a commando and their target. Some treat early morning shopping on Black Friday as a sport. Retailers play into the game by opening their doors earlier and earlier each year. It used to be that the starting gun fired at 7:00 a.m., but in recent years that has moved up to 6:00 a.m. for most retailers and I noticed some 5:30 a.m. opening times for some stores this year. How long before they just go ahead and start the festivities at midnight? There are two aspects of Black Friday and holiday shopping that are of particular interest to me - the economic ramifications and the phenomenon of gift giving. Obviously, the volume of holiday sales provides an indication of the health of the economy and of consumer confidence. Initial indications are that the 2004 holiday shopping season will be good, if not great. A strong holiday shopping season can provide a boost to the economy heading into the new year. I often wonder about the psychology of holiday gift giving. How many people truly grasp the significance of gift giving and give holiday gifts from the heart versus those that give gifts only under the pressure of expectation and relentless advertising? Does it mean as much to give a gift because it is expected versus giving a gift for no reason at all? I also question the giving of gifts to those that simply want more "stuff" as opposed to giving gifts to those that are truly in need. There are many worthy charities that do great work for those that really need help. Maybe instead of buying another electronic gadget for an ungrateful teenager, a donation in the name of that teenager may not only serve to help out someone less fortunate, but would also provide a valuable lesson as to the true meaning of the holiday season. With so many servicemen and women overseas and away from their families during this holiday season, Americans have a great opportunity to give gifts that are not only truly needed, but will be truly appreciated. Whether you finished your holiday shopping on Black Friday or are still contemplating running the gauntlet at your local shopping mall, some reflection on the real meaning of the holiday season and gift giving may be worthwhile. -- Send feedback to the author. The "What is the Deal?" column will appears weekly on the Pie of Knowledge website. Guest submissions are welcome and encouraged. To submit an article to "What is the Deal?" click here. To subscribe to the "What is the Deal?" mailing list and receive early notification when a new column is available, click here. The Pie of Knowledge will never, ever divulge email addresses to any third party for any reason unless so ordered by a court of law. Contributions to the Pie of Knowledge are greatly appreciated. 
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