It’s a Friday morning in late November. You open your inbox and see it: “Black Friday – up to 70% off! Today only!” A colleague tells you she has already ordered a new laptop. Do you join in, or close the email and get back to work?
What is Black Friday?
Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving in the United States, which is always the fourth Thursday in November. For many shops, it marks the start of the Christmas shopping season. Today it is popular in many countries, and for a lot of online stores it is no longer just one day – the offers often last a whole week.
Why do businesses love it?
Shops offer big discounts to attract new customers and to sell products before the end of the year. Marketing teams also create a sense of urgency with messages like “limited-time offer” or “only 3 left!”. These messages push us to decide quickly.
AI generated
Why are some people sceptical?
Not everyone is a fan. Some shoppers say certain “discounts” are not real: the price goes up a few weeks before and then comes “down”. Others worry about impulse buying – buying something because it is cheap, not because we need it. And small businesses often find it hard to compete with the huge discounts of large companies.
Shopping Idioms :
Break the bank – spend too much money
Shop till you drop – shop for a long time
A steal – a very good bargain
Cost an arm and a leg – be very expensive
Hit the shops – go shopping
Game!
Memotest: Shopping and Deals
Turn over two cards. Match each word with its meaning.
LET´S TALK!
Who do you think benefits most from Black Friday – shoppers, big companies or small businesses? Why?
- Think of something you bought in a sale. Was it a good decision? Why or why not?
- How do shops in your country advertise big sales? Do these adverts work on you?
- If you managed a small business, would you offer Black Friday discounts? Why or why not?
- How do you think shopping events like this will change in the next ten years?
Final thought
The best Black Friday deal isn’t always the biggest discount – it’s something you really need, at a better price. So this November, before you click “buy”, ask yourself one question: who is really getting the bargain – you, or the shop?
