Shopping Season Creeps Up On Holidays

Half the nation races against the clock during the middle of the night and endures the brisk weather for hours to brawl, scream and die for the biggest deals of the season.

This national holiday phenomenon, Black Friday, will start on average at 4 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, the earliest it ever has. Black Friday shopping’s progressive overflow into Thanksgiving evening has stirred both anticipation and backlash from the community. Either way, the new starting times will affect how West High students spend their Thanksgiving holiday.

Black Friday retailers have steadily implemented earlier starting times for the past eight years. “More people will probably come earlier [to shop] then, and be more likely to skip Thanksgiving,” said Kristina Rosebrook ‘19.

Even though more than two-thirds of West High students prefer to go shopping during this holiday according to our survey, Rosebrook has other plans. “If we do go shopping, it’s for food,” Rosebrook said. She describes her Thanksgiving evening spent eating a home cooked meal with her family and friends. “You could celebrate Thanksgiving and be thankful for the food and family around you,” says Rosebrook.

However, not every family “traditionally” celebrates Thanksgiving evening with quality family time and feasts. In our survey, students express that shopping isn’t the only factor interrupting their Thanksgiving; busy families and absent parents have taken a toll.

Black Friday shopping may be the only opportunity to spend time with family and friends. More than three-fourths shop with their family, and of those, more than half prefer it that way. Taylor Shelfo ‘18 looks forward to shopping with her mom every year. “We plan out everything for Black Friday,” said Shelfo.

“We alternate hosting Thanksgiving parties and I used to make crafts with my friend Diana, but now we shop and it’s less fun, but at least we’re still spending time together,” said Frances Dai ‘19, “Our meal times are also really weird; we have no breakfast or dinner, just brunch.”

If not Black Friday shopping, they may be working during the holidays. For those who have jobs at major retailers, it is nearly impossible to take the weekend off. A long-time Hot Topic employee said, “Everyone that works here works on Black Friday.”

Businesses depend on this single shopping day to account for 30 percent of their annual profit, according to Accounting Degree Review. The average West High student spends just over $100 on Black Friday, but for Dai, “[Black Friday] has become a family tradition to get the best deals. Every year we get a new TV of some sort.”

Dai and her family take two shopping trips: one at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving evening and another at 5 a.m. in the morning. “We go about two hours before stores open and wait in line.” She chuckled and said, “We’re the family everyone hates on Black Friday. You know when one person waits in line and then suddenly eight people horde in? Yeah, that’s us.”

Even if you’re an avid Black Friday shopper who spends hundreds and long hours shopping, a traditional family member that celebrates Thanksgiving with turkeys and parties or neither, enjoy yourself and treasure the break from school.