scorecardA look back at how much Black Friday has changed over the years
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  4. A look back at how much Black Friday has changed over the years

A look back at how much Black Friday has changed over the years

Black Friday as we know it really took hold in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

A look back at how much Black Friday has changed over the years

News reports circulated a popular myth about Black Friday, explaining that its name referred to retailers trying to be "in the black" in terms of profits.

News reports circulated a popular myth about Black Friday, explaining that its name referred to retailers trying to be "in the black" in terms of profits.

The term "Black Friday" actually dates back to a financial crash that occurred in 1869. The term took on a meaning in the retail world in the 1950s in Philadelphia.

Source: Business Insider, The Daily Journal, The Tampa Bay Times, Citizens' Voice, The Los Angeles Times, The Atlanta Constitution, The Times-Tribune, The Daily Reporter

And what had started out as an unspoken phenomenon became a staple of the retail world.

And what had started out as an unspoken phenomenon became a staple of the retail world.

Still, Black Friday was never the top holiday shopping day by sales even during the late 1990s.

Still, Black Friday was never the top holiday shopping day by sales even during the late 1990s.

By the early 2000s, the date took on a special significance for consumers in the United States.

By the early 2000s, the date took on a special significance for consumers in the United States.

Traditionally, deal-seeking shoppers from across the nation would wake up super early ...

Traditionally, deal-seeking shoppers from across the nation would wake up super early ...

... sometimes even camping outside their preferred store ...

... sometimes even camping outside their preferred store ...

... all just to get an extra head start on rival customers.

... all just to get an extra head start on rival customers.

Retail employees, on the other hand, would hunker down and prepare for pandemonium.

Retail employees, on the other hand, would hunker down and prepare for pandemonium.

Retail employees tell Business Insider that this level of chaos can still break out today on Black Friday.

Retail employees tell Business Insider that this level of chaos can still break out today on Black Friday.

Of course, large crowds don't always promise big returns for retailers.

Of course, large crowds don

Source: Reuters

Deep discounting meant to attract Black Friday shoppers amid the 2008 financial crisis caused department store stocks to plummet, Reuters reported.

Deep discounting meant to attract Black Friday shoppers amid the 2008 financial crisis caused department store stocks to plummet, Reuters reported.

Source: Reuters

And 2008 wasn't the only gloomy year for Black Friday. Overall spending volume on the day after Thanksgiving also fell in 2014.

And 2008 wasn

But Black Friday hasn't diminished or gone away as much as it's changed.

But Black Friday hasn

Today, perhaps the biggest challenge to the traditional Black Friday model has been the rise of e-commerce.

Today, perhaps the biggest challenge to the traditional Black Friday model has been the rise of e-commerce.

In 2018, more consumers shopped online than in stores on Black Friday itself.

In 2018, more consumers shopped online than in stores on Black Friday itself.

And, influenced by the rise of Amazon and the online retail giant's summertime Prime Day, retailers have experimented with unrolling deals throughout November and the entire holiday season.

And, influenced by the rise of Amazon and the online retail giant

Back before e-commerce grew into the behemoth it is today, Black Friday could be a far more taxing experience.

Back before e-commerce grew into the behemoth it is today, Black Friday could be a far more taxing experience.

Shoppers would have to brave sometimes intense crowds ...

Shoppers would have to brave sometimes intense crowds ...

... and, in some tragic instances, risk brawls, injury, or even death.

... and, in some tragic instances, risk brawls, injury, or even death.

At the very least, it's tough to drag yourself into the mall on the day after Thanksgiving, when you'd probably rather be relaxing.

At the very least, it

Despite all that, in-store events continue to tempt shoppers to this day.

Despite all that, in-store events continue to tempt shoppers to this day.

Another thing that has changed significantly in recent years is Black Friday's reach.

Another thing that has changed significantly in recent years is Black Friday

Traditionally, the term has been synonymous with consumer culture in the United States.

Traditionally, the term has been synonymous with consumer culture in the United States.

Lately, retailers across the globe have begun to adopt Black Friday-style events ...

Lately, retailers across the globe have begun to adopt Black Friday-style events ...

Source: Quartz

... with events kicking off everywhere from Belarus to London to São Paulo.

... with events kicking off everywhere from Belarus to London to São Paulo.

Source: Quartz

In 2018, Amazon even wooed London shoppers with a yoga class to celebrate Black Friday, declaring its pop-up store the "Home of Black Friday."

In 2018, Amazon even wooed London shoppers with a yoga class to celebrate Black Friday, declaring its pop-up store the "Home of Black Friday."

Source: Campaign

On the domestic front, foot traffic in stores on Black Friday declined by 1.7% between 2017 and 2018 in the US, CNBC reported.

On the domestic front, foot traffic in stores on Black Friday declined by 1.7% between 2017 and 2018 in the US, CNBC reported.

Source: CNBC

Between the lessening importance of in-store events, pivot to e-commerce, and expansion on a global scale, Black Friday's role has changed over time, even as it remains a significant part of the retail calendar.

Between the lessening importance of in-store events, pivot to e-commerce, and expansion on a global scale, Black Friday
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