CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Why isn't Black Friday as popular as it used to be?
Let's connect the dots.
Holiday shopping fever began in 1924 with the original Christmas ad - The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade - kicking off the holiday shopping season.
The term "Black Friday" didn't enter the national conversation until the late 1980s, when retailers turned it into an unofficial holiday.
The 2008 recession started the demise of Black Friday. Retailers embraced a new strategy, starting Black Friday sales earlier in the holiday season.
This year, the National Retail Federation predicts that about 115 million people will shop on Black Friday, about the same as before the pandemic.
But this comes and more and more people are ditching the shopping holiday, choosing instead to shop online or earlier in the year. In fact, six out of ten people are now choosing to begin holiday shopping in early November.
FREE PODCASTS
Flashpoint is a weekly in-depth look at politics in Charlotte, North Carolina, South Carolina, and beyond with host Ben Thompson. Listen to the podcast weekly.
SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Stitcher || Google Podcasts
Locked On is the leading podcast network for local sports and is owned by WCNC Charlotte's parent company TEGNA.
Listen to Locked On here.
Wake Up Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with the team at Wake Up Charlotte.
SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Stitcher || TuneIn || Google Podcasts
All of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.