The name “Black Friday” may strike you as a rather dark way to observe the highlight of the shopping calendar. Have you ever wondered about this name, or where this whole thing started in the first place? Today feels like the right time to find out and have a look at why the thrill of shopping feels so good. 

The Origin of Black Friday

We can trace the first use of the name Black Friday to the market crash in the USA in 1869. While this has no connection to the shopping holiday, it is the first recorded use of the phrase.

The modern use of the term arose in Philadelphia, USA in the 1960s. The day following Thanksgiving would see the streets jammed with holiday shoppers, pedestrians, and football fans flooding the city ahead of the Army-Navy football game. It was the police officers, totally overwhelmed by this surge, who first coined the term “Black Friday” to describe the level of traffic chaos.

By the 1980s, retailers reframed “Black Friday” positively. The name came to signify the day when stores went from being “in the red” (operating at a loss) to “in the black” (making a profit) due to an increase in holiday shopping. This then led to more and more retailers over the years offering significant discounts to attract attention.

As the phenomenon grew in popularity into the current day, retailers continue to embrace the event with special deals, exclusive promotions, and extending the day to last for weeks. Black Friday is now known all over the world, where each country adapts it to suit their cultural preferences and shopping habits.

The Origin of ‘Retail Therapy’

Now, Black Friday wouldn’t be such a success if it weren’t for something called retail therapy. Retail therapy isn’t just a catchy phrase – it’s backed by psychology. First used in the 1980s, and quickly picked up in popular media, studies suggest that buying something you love releases dopamine, the brain’s ‘feel-good’ chemical. This small act of self-indulgence that can actually lift your mood and give you a sense of control.

Combined with the thrill of finding a great deal, retail therapy becomes even more rewarding. And when those great deals focus on self-care, such as gorgeous natural skincare products that nourish your body and soul, it’s a perfect win-win situation.

Why Self-Care Shopping Matters

This year, why not embrace Black Friday with a pure purpose? Rather than getting dragged away in the materialistic frenzy, take your power back and focus on those things that will truly enhance your well-being and lifestyle. At Bellabaci, we believe that self-care starts with the little things that make us smile – like treating yourself to skincare products that reveal your calm inner radiance.

While Black Friday may have begun as a day of chaos and human congestion, it has become a treasured moment in many people’s calendars to treat themselves, and others. Keep an eye out for our Black Friday promotion to help put that beautiful smile on your face: 50% off on your favourite Bellabaci products and Ritual Kits, as well as our Soulfood, Meno-free, and Cocobaci ranges. Half the price means double the reward!

Luckily for us, we have the option of online shopping and avoiding malls if we so choose. But whether you are strolling or scrolling for your retail therapy this season, remember to shop with purpose and intention. After all, the best gift of all is the gift of self-care.