Black Friday

 

 

Black Friday

Will your gargantuan shopping cart  be so full this Christmas you will not be able to see beyond the commercial chaos of the season? Will it be  "Merry Christmas" or a tired "Happy Holi-daze" until you can glide into the Valentine's Day marketing push? It all begins soon with Black Friday – a term that was repurposed from chaos to a big cash grab. Originally coined by Philadelphia police in 1950 to describe the disorderly crowds the day after Thanksgiving, it was later hijacked - rebranded by retailers in the '70s to signify a profitable day—when stores went from being "in the red" to "in the black."

 

Now, Black Friday isn't just one day; it stretches on, building up until the last coin drops in the Salvation Army kettle and your credit card cries “Uncle.” Retailers have re-engineered  Christmas into a massive moneymaking machine, with the “need for greed” at the top of the list. The wealthiest shoppers are often targeted with tailored experiences and high-end goods, (30% of sales in a good economy, ka-ching ) and marketing tries to convince us we  are worthy of everything  being offered, regardless of cost. Apple, Yankee Candle, Fitbit—all push the message: we deserve the best.

And then there are the materialists and the FOMO shoppers, driven by urgency and the fear of missing out on a deal. These shoppers fall into a well-crafted consumer trap, where the emotional pull of scarcity and desire leads to decisions they regret later. Don’t get caught.

When you check out this holiday season, don't expect a  "Merry Christmas" from the weary clerk who’s been drowning in Christmas tunes all day. It's more likely to be a robotic "Happy Holidays" or just the usual  generic "Have a nice day." Used to be you would hear “Thank You” or “Thank you so much” to add a sense of sincerity when completing a purchase. But in the early 1970s  this  was replaced with “Have a nice day" as part of new broader buyer-centric check-out  language. It was claimed to be a friendly, positive phrase that would leave the customer with a greater sense of satisfaction after the transaction. It feels empty doesn’t it?

As the 2024 Christmas season kicks off, I hope you find joy, but also remember when you fill up your cart this year, leave space for something  you can donate to Toy for Tots, carry some paper money to put a smile on the face of the Salvation Army kettle-keeper freezing his chestnuts or in other ways, shun the Holi-daze and step away from the material rush. You might not get everything you want this Christmas, but it is  likely you already have everything you need. True wealth is found in giving to others less fortunate.

And if you haven’t been to church in a while, consider stopping by. It’s a place for sinners, not saints. Don’t wait for six strong men to carry you there. Tell God “Thank you so much” for the Gift of His Son.