Black Friday, once a day for getting great deals at some of your favorite stores, has morphed into something huge and occasionally vicious. Black Friday deals have recently been extended so that shoppers are granted with even better deals on Thanksgiving—a day retail workers have affectionately titled ‘Brown Thursday’. If you’re fed up with Black Friday, here are some alternative days to look forward to this shopping season:
Small Business Saturday. Started by American Express in 2010, Small Business Saturday is a day to shop at your local stores. The little guys need your patronage, especially around the holidays, since it is impossible to compete with the big box stores’ holiday prices. The city of Fort Wayne is helping out local businesses with the Holly Trolley. This is an annual event hosted by the Downtown Improvement District on Saturday November 28th. Shoppers will have access to three separate trolley lines which will go through downtown, Wells Street, and West Main. There are about 70 different small businesses and restaurants for visitors to visit. The event’s manager, Megan Butler, urges us to “shop local and shop small so you [can] get unique and interesting gifts for people on your shopping list”. Visit the Holly Trolley’s information page for a map and schedule.
Cyber Monday. Looking for all the great Black Friday deals, but not looking forward to the rush of people or the long lines? Wait until Monday and you can do all your holiday shopping online. Many retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Target offer special deals on the Monday after Black Friday. You’ll still get all the items on your list, and you can do it in your pajamas.
Giving Tuesday. Once you’ve loaded up your shopping carts (physical or virtual) with gifts for friends and family, remember to give back to your local charities! Giving Tuesday was created by 92nd Street Y, a cultural center in New York City. By using the tag #GivingTuesday, this movement allows charities worldwide to spread the word on how people can help them out with donations of time, money, or small gifts.