All you need to know about Black Friday sale

The Black Friday sale is the sale of the year everyone eagerly waits for. All retailers put huge discounts on their products for the weekend after Thanksgiving. 

Be it lipsticks or televisions, there are deals on everything for everyone.

Black Friday sales pulled in $6.2 billion only in online sales across the globe in 2018, which is 23.6 percent more than in 2017, according to Adobe analytics.

However, not many who stand in long queues in front of shops or face heavy traffic on websites are aware of the history behind this infamous deal. 

History
Two Wall Street financiers, Jim Fisk and Jay Gould, jointly bought a substantial amount of US gold with the hopes of skyrocketing the price. Then on Friday, September 24, 1869, the US gold market crashed and the actions of Fisk and Gould left Wall Street barons bankrupt.

So, in the beginning, the name Black Friday was associated with a financial crisis, rather sales or related to Thanksgiving. 

In the 1950s, police officers in Philadelphia were the first to connect Black Friday to the post-thanksgiving weekend. The day after Thanksgiving, thousands gathered for the Army-Navy football game and the crowd created chaos, traffic jams and shoplifting opportunities. 

The city's police officers were unable to take the day off work and instead had to work long hours to contain the chaos, using the word "Black Friday" to refer to that incident.

In the early 1980s, another origin was linked. Traditionally, retailers are at a financial loss for most of the year (January through November) and made profits during the holiday season, starting on the day after the Thanksgiving. 

One common practice was to use red ink to show negative amounts and black ink to show positive amounts. In this theory, Black Friday is the beginning of the profits.

Advise for shoppers

The Telegraph suggested that shoppers prepare a checklist before diving into the ocean of deals on Black Friday.

First, set a budget to not get carried away and buying items out of budget. Do not put yourself in debt. Also, research on the item, check all websites to find the best deal. When shopping online, try to buy stuff with credit card as it can keep the scammers off.

Best deals from major retailers

The CNN has a list from the major retailers giving out the best deals.

Amazon: The best deals on almost everything. Check Amazon's Gold Box page for more info.

Apple: The new AirPods Pro are on sale for $234.98, originally $249.99. 

Bed Bath and Beyond: Bed Bath and Beyond has released tons of Black Friday steals, including a great 39% off the KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer.

Best Buy: Best Buy is running hundreds of deals across departments, including TVs, laptops and gaming consoles.

GameStop: Black Friday deals on the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch and tons more.

Kohl's: Black Friday savings include huge markdowns across product categories. 

Lowe's: Hundreds of Black Friday deals, from appliances to tools and smart home and bath.

Macy's: Black Friday savings at Macy's include nearly $80 off a classic Michael Kors tote and 75% off the bestselling nonstick 13-Piece Cookware Set, just $29.99, down from $119.99.

Nintendo: There are a couple places you can save on a Nintendo Switch or Switch Lite this Black Friday, including Amazon, Gamestop and Walmart.

Nordstrom: Nordstom is rolling out a ton of incredible deals through Cyber Monday, like nearly $20 off the fan-favorite (and our favorite) Spanx Faux Leather Leggings or $50 off Topshop's Carly Coat. The retailer is also offering a sneak peek at exciting, upcoming deals.

Overstock: During Overstock's full week of Black Friday deals, you get free shipping and up to 70% off thousands of items. Keep checking back since the brand is also featuring daily doorbuster deals and flash sales.

Sephora: The mega beauty retailer is offering major deals on tons of sets that are perfect for gifting, with new deals dropping every day.

Target: Up to 50% off headphones, $100 off video game consoles and $50 off the Fitbit Versa 2.

The Home Depot: From up to 35% off select tools, storage and accessories to 40% off appliances, Home Depot is featuring thousands of Black Friday savings.

Walmart: Hundreds of products discounted across electronics, home, video games and toys. The Apple Watch Series 3 is just $169.99, down from $199. 

Wayfair: Wayfair is hosting its Black Friday Blowout, which features up to 80% off furniture, home decor, rugs and much more.

If you do not find the things you wanted on this year's sale, well, there is always next year!