Black Friday shoppers at Walmart

Black Friday shoppers at Walmart (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Did you ever wonder why the day after Thanksgiving is called Black Friday? I did and what I found was that what I’ve always thought, that it was called that because companies went from red to black during the holidays, is a myth.

According to Bloomberg Business, the myths surrounding Black Friday have been embraced by retailers and as they put it, “It’s not exactly clear when, in the decades since, retailers across the country embraced the name. By the time they did, it came with the reassuring myth that Black Friday was the day they turned a profit to be “in the black.” (A quick look at retailers’ quarterly earnings should put that canard to rest.)”  The name is not the only myth surrounding what’s become an American tradition. One with a sordid past and one with some heartbreak.

I am NOT a Black Friday shopper, at least not in person. Sure, I’ll stalk some of my favorite websites that day for deals, but I haven’t gone in person for years. It’s just too ugly out there. I want a great deal like anyone else; I’m just not willing to deal with the nastiness that it brings out in people. I’d rather shop in a more leisurely manner and be appreciated by the merchants I choose to visit and that’s why I’m shopping on Small Business Saturday!

Shop Small - Small Business Saturday Shopping

Shop Small – Small Business Saturday Shopping

As a small business owner myself, I try to practice what I preach and buy from small local vendors whenever possible. This includes food, hair care, personal services and more. Unfortunately where I live most of the mom and pop shops are gone, but thankfully there are still some available within driving distance so I’ll be visiting them on Saturday to show my support.

I’ll be starting my day out with lunch at a small business-owned cafe and then I’ll be visiting a few stores looking for Christmas gifts. You can follow my shopping adventure on Saturday via my Twitter and Facebook accounts. See where I go, what I buy, and who I spend the day with.

How do you do your holiday shopping? Do you don elbow pads and other protective gear to brave the insanity at stores in the wee hours of the morning? Or are you a hybrid shopper – some online and some in person like me. I’m curious how others handle the shopping madness that can be the holidays.

Small Business Saturday®

If you’re an American Express customer, you can score a $25 Statement Credit just for shopping. Restrictions apply – see American Express $25 Statement Credit Cardmember Offer for Small Business Saturday® rules for more details.

The holidays are the busiest shopping days of the season. Please consider spending some of your dollars to support small businesses like mine every day but especially on Small Business Saturday®.


I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for American Express. I received a promotional item as a thank-you for participating. All opinions are my own.