Black Friday Breakdown A Pacifican special edition

B
Inside this lack Friday.
issue:
The term
How Pacific conjures
students shop 2
up images
Giving for a of long lines, frenzied
greater good 2
shoppers, and great
Student quotes 2 deals. We have been
Black Friday’s shopping for centuries,
tumultuous but only now have we
moments 3
turned the chore in to a
Shop online this national past time.
Cyber Monday 3
To ensure that you get
The pros and cons all of the necessary info The Packaging Source

of Black Friday 4 to successfully shop to day, its successor, Cyber Monday, and
Top sites for your heart’s content, The Pacifican has more.Have a great Thanksgiving break,
Cyber Monday 4 crafted a Black Friday special just for you. and let this insert inspire your holiday
Most wanted Learn about the history of this chaotic shopping.
items 4

The history of the Black Friday tradition

Karla Cortez retail frenzy, it was through Although Roosevelt did try The word “black” also a profit because losses would
News Editor the combined efforts of all to change the original date implies the fact that “going in always be recorded in red and
We all know Black Friday U.S retailers during the 19th of Thanksgiving, the change to the black” meant making gains in black by accountants.
as a day for bargain shopping; century in order to save their didn’t stick due to
you can find some of the stores from further damage confusion, uproar from
year’s best deals for the things during the Great Depression. many Americans, and
you want the most, especially According to an article mixed financial results.
considering the date always by Jennifer Rosenberg In the end, all of
marks the beginning of the titled “How FDR Changed these events lead to the
holiday shopping season. Thanksgiving”, in 1939, widespread adherence
Black Friday, something during the Great Depression, of most retailers to the
that one could not really U.S. retailers begged unwritten rule that no
refer to as a holiday, has President Franklin D. store would aggressively
become a tradition of sorts in Roosevelt to change the date advertise or hold holiday
American culture; thousands of Thanksgiving from the sales until the Friday
of Americans, oftentimes fourth Thursday of November after Thanksgiving.
whole families, participate in to the third. The term “Black
waiting outside of malls, Wal- This was after the Retail Friday” was coined
Marts, Best Buys, and many Dry Goods Association had in the 1960’s and has
other stores that participate warned Franklin Roosevelt a variety of origins,
in the sale. that retail sales would including the fact that
However, like all traditions, drop, further worsening the many Philadelphia
Black Friday has a history and economy, because Americans police officers often used
origin. Although there is no would most likely refuse to it to refer to the extreme
set date as to when the day start the holiday shopping congestion of drivers
after Thanksgiving became a season until the fourth and pedestrians on the
Thursday of the month. day after Thanksgiving. Natalie B. Compton
2 | THE PACIFICAN SPECIAL EDITION November 15, 2012

Black Friday Breakdown

How Pacific
students shop
Teryn Porter rience.
Copy Writer Sometimes, Black Friday
It’s no secret that getting shopping experiences come
up extremely early has come to be some of our best memo-
to define Black Friday. Many ries.
believe that shopping in the “I usually start Black Fri-
wee hours of the morning day by meeting my friends in
after Thanksgiving is a great line at Old Navy at 11:30p.m.
way to kick off the Christmas on Thanksgiving night,” said
gift-buying season. Erin Grant ’14. “We stand in
Then there are those who line and then shop through
don’t see the value or thrill Old Navy at midnight. After,
of getting up so early just we all go to sleep over at a
to fight the crowds for that friend’s house that is down
must-have item. town. Later, we wake up at 4
So, what do Pacific stu- in the morning to go to Ma-
dents think? cys, H&M, American Eagle, Roozt.com
Gap, and whatever other

Give for the greater good

For some, Black Friday
is something that they have stores happen to catch our
never experienced. eyes that day. I enjoy shop-
When asked if she had ever ping because I get a rush from
participated in this shopping all the good sales! It’s also a
fun time to spend with my Jamieson Cox percent of the world’s like most websites. What’s
craze, Tasha Farnaam ’15 STAFF WRITER
friends and get started on my population does not have great is that you can also
said, “No, I’ve never done it
Christmas shopping for my shoes and that one billion shop by “impact.”
before! I learned what Black This holiday season when
families. I am lucky I live in people do not have access to By using the maps on the
Friday was like three years looking for gifts for your
San Francisco because I get clean water? Or that there sites, you can pick a region
ago, and ever since then, friends, family, and even
to do my Black Friday shop- are 13 million AIDS orphans of the world and also shop
I’ve been meaning to get up yourself, I challenge you to
ping around Union Square!” in Africa? by items that help a specific
early and go shopping, but change your habits.
With the positives, how- So when you are shopping cause in that specific region.
I’ve either forgotten or been Spend the same amount
ever, come the negatives. “I for others, or even making There are thousands of
too busy or just had no way and buy the same amount of
like the adventure of it [Black your list for Santa, also very high quality items that
of going.” gifts for everyone you know,
Friday]; you are braving the known as Mom and Dad, are fair trade and help nearly
It is easy to see that Black but do so with a real purpose.
cold for shopping,” said Shel- (hopefully you know Santa every cause and global issue
Friday has appeal, and some Due to the amount of
ley Buford ’16. “However, is not real by now…oops), imaginable.
are just itching to get in on global health and social
I really dislike how crazy check out these shopping So this holiday season, you
the good deals – even if it issues that people are
people can get; the pushing destinations that help those should know that the perfect
means losing a few hours of constantly struggling with,
and shoving is not civilized people around the world that gift for your friend or mother
sleep. such as water shortages and
behavior.” may not be as fortunate as we could be the gift that gives
Other students who have disease breakouts, thousands
Black Friday has some of are here at Pacific. water to a family in a third
participated in the past plan of companies have developed
the best shopping deals, and The two best places to world country, puts a pair
on going again, as their pre- products to help combat the
getting up early is everyone’s start are Roozt.com and of shoes on a kid in South
vious experiences with Black issues for the greater good.
game plan; with large crowds Shopwithmeaning.org. America, or helps educate
Friday have been positive This constant increase of
comes craziness and stress, These sites offer every item millions on AIDS prevention.
ones. socially conscious brands
something that not every- you can imagine. You will Why shop just for your
“I want to do it again be- allows consumers to
body wants to deal with in find all types of clothing that family and friends when you
cause I love the thought of purchase nearly any kind of
the early hours of the morn- fit the new trends for men and can shop for all of humanity?
not sleeping just to shop,” product that also serves a
ing. women, including apparel, If there is anything that won’t
said Luis Monzon ‘15. “I also greater purpose.
It is easy to see that the ear- accessories, footwear, and ever go out of style, that is
like seeing all the people and One of the most
ly bird gets the worm when it more. helping others.
how everyone really wants to commonly known innovative
comes to Black Friday. This They even have new This season (and maybe
get a specific toy just to give and mainstream brand to do
shopping experience can be a electronics and home décor; forever), give for the greater
it away to a loved one for this, TOMS shoes, is just one
time to get good deals, spend anything you have in mind good and do your part to help
Christmas.” of thousands of companies
with friends and family, and can be found on one of these those around the world that
To Monzon, getting up selling everyday products
get ahead on your Christmas two websites. are less fortunate live a little
early for Black Friday adds to that equally benefit people in
shopping – all if you’re will- On these websites, you bit easier. Pacific Hail, Tigers
the excitement of the event need all around the world.
ing to sacrifice some sleep can decide to shop by type Prevail.
and makes for a better expe- Did you know that 40
and fight the crowds. of item or for women or men

D
“I love it! It allows me to get a “No, I think it’s ridiculous that “Yes, I love to go frantically shop
o you like majority of my shopping done people fight over things on sale.” at stores just one day after being
in one day!” “thankful” for what I already have.”
Black Friday? -Kelsey Belomy ‘14
-Hayley Hartwick ‘13 -Marvin Cotton ‘13
November 15, 2012 SPECIAL EDITION THE PACIFICAN | 3

Black Friday Breakdown

Black Friday’s tumultuous moments
Kelly Asmus Mart wouldn’t let him return the discounted electronics trampled merchandise, and Ariz., there was an older man
Lifestyles Editor an item.” she wished to obtain on Black shoved each other for the who was subdued by police
Most people think that Young also mentions a Friday. deeply-discounted goods,” while “trying to shoplift
Black Friday is that one day death one year during a Wal- Aliyah Shahid stated in Shahid said. during a chaotic rush for
a year that people go entirely Mart door-buster sale. Young Young’s article that, “at least Shahid also mentions discounted video games.”
nuts to get a good deal on states not only did Wal-Mart 20 shoppers suffered minor gunfire at a mall in Fayetteville, Onlookers found the police
their gifts this holiday season. not hire security to help injuries, and police are still N.C., women fighting over to be overzealous with the
It is true that some crazy stuff police with the “free for all” looking for the woman.” yoga pants at a Victoria’s man and yelled out things like
has happened on this day of they were having, but instead This all began just after Secret at Monroeville Mall in “that’s police brutality” and
deals. used inexperienced Wal-Mart 10:20 p.m. as shoppers began Pittsburgh, Pa., and a shopper “he wasn’t doing anything.”
We wanted to show you employees to help control the the search for Black Friday that was shot and critically Turns out he had been, “just
a little bit about some of the crowd. deals. wounded while being robbed trying to help his grandson
interesting stuff that has gone A tug-o-war of types began “Witnesses described the outside a Wal-Mart in San after the boy was trampled by
down, so here are a few tales with the sliding glass door at frenzied scene to the Los Leandro, Calif., as well as in shoppers and only put a video
from Black Fridays’ past. the entrance of the Wal-Mart Angeles Times, describing Myrtle Beach, S.C. game in his waistband to free
In an article written by with employees trying to how shoppers-gone-wild tore In an article by the his hands to help the boy.”
Geoffrey Young for Cracked. keep the doors from bowing down video game displays, Associated Press in Phoenix,
com, Young mentions a few inwards.
incidents concerning Wal- The force of the crowd
Mart and their Black Friday eventually shattered one of
affairs. the doors. The crowds rushed
These include incidents in, smashing an employee
such as the following: “Wesly under their weight.
Strellis walked into a Wal- Four other people were
Mart a little after noon, injured too, including a
picked up a mental bat from woman who was eight months
the sporting goods section, pregnant.
carried it to electronics, and Another incident at this
methodically destroyed 29 flat same location was in 2005,
screen TVs.” but it was just one man
There have also been cutting the line that threw this
incidents of punches being Wal-Mart into a frenzy.
thrown over greeters asking The man tried to cut the
to see receipts. According orderly line of people trying to
to Young, there has been get a computer really cheap;
situation such as “the guy who this angered the crowd, so
walked into a Wal-Mart and they wrestled him to the
pissed on a case of steaks... ground.
and the man that lit three The New York Daily News
racks of clothes on fire in the also reported a woman in Los
men’s department when Wal- Angeles pepper-spraying a
safety net around herself and Jeff and Jeremy in the Morning

Beat the bustle: Shop online this Cyber Monday

Juliene Sesar day is younger than the tra- From 2006 until last year, they missed during the mad monday2012.com.
Editor-in-Chief ditional Black Friday, mainly sales on Cyber Monday have rush of Black Friday. However, don’t count out
because of the internet’s age increased from $610 to $1,251 Amazon.com leads cyber- direct retailers like Kohl’s.
Didn’t feel like fighting the in general. million dollars, according to space with deals from any- Kohl’s always encourages
masses on Black Friday? No In the beginning of its ex- comScore, Inc. where between 20 percent off their customers to “expect
worries, Cyber Monday pro- istence, not many American’s The sales are expected to to 90 percent off. great things” and will be post-
vides some of the best online logged on to find those deals increase even more this year. The online retail store can ing all of their Cyber Monday
deals of the year. they missed on Friday, but All day long, online retail- do this because it “has direct deals on Nov. 24.
In 2005, the National Re- now it has become common ers will be slashing prices and contracts with many manu- The retailer sells everything
tail Federation coined the knowledge that we can skip encouraging consumers that facturers, distributors, and from clothing, toys, home dé-
name “Cyber Monday” for the the lines and capture that are too tuckered out to aban- other great small- to medi- cor, and sporting goods.
Monday after Thanksgiving. camera we missed out on with don their couches to surf the um-sized retailers across the
This national shopping a few clicks. web for those last few items internet”, according to Cyber-

W hat do Grad school application fees,

GRE fee, gas, Netflix fee,
Range Rovers, Phones, computers,
iPods, iPads, and
My college
you wish and printing. half price. clothes. tuition.
-Marvin Cotton ‘13 -Carrie Fung ‘12
was on sale? -Halima Lucas ‘13 -Ostmar Aleman ‘13
4 | THE PACIFICAN THE PACIFICAN November 15, 2012

Black Friday Breakdown

T
op Cyber
Monday
websites
Amazon.com
BestBuy.com
Microsoft.com
Walmart.com
Newegg.com
Kmart.com
TigerDirect.com
Phillips.com
Target.com Motorola Mobility Home

Source: Jason Gilbert, The

Huffington Post
The pros and cons of Black Friday

M
Ruben Dominguez consumer knows about this; it being lazy. There’s no lazy to stake out a place in line in
Sports Editor isn’t exactly a big secret. This way to truly succeed at Black front of Target, scramble for
ost Bouncing up and down
means that the masses will
certainly be out Thanksgiving
Friday. Staking out at stores
as if they were theaters the
gifts like you’re a survivor
fighting for supplies for the
wanted with their mouths full of
75-percent-off-candy and
night. With hordes reportedly
to be predicted as measuring
night before the premier of
The Avengers is required.
end of the world, and suffer
sleep loss and bruises just to
items Halloween still in their
collective review mirror,
to zombie apocalypse-like
proportions, there will be
It’s like a campout but with
spending money on gifts!
save a couple bucks?
Chaos may be the only true
overzealous consumers can crowds, there will be fighting, A way for the lazy people winner of Black Friday. When
-Clothes now focus their attention and there will, most likely, be who want to spend a lot of they’re awake in the early
v on the next great spending blood. money but not get up to do hours of the morning, people
holiday. Obviously, that is not Knowing all of this, it in person can now order are irritable, ugly, and angry.
-Televisions Thanksgiving, or, as its better the average, non-crazed items online on Black Friday. They are also surrounded by
-Phones/ known as, Play-Football- consumer is faced with a While the prices may actually other irritable, ugly, angry
smartphones Then-Watch-Football-And- dilemma: get shopping over be lower, fighting through people, adding to the overall
Eat-Until-You-Feel-Bad-
-Notebook/laptop About-Yourself Day. This is
with while saving hundreds— online clutter may be more bad feelings. In addition, they
maybe thousands—of dollars of a hassle than just going in see you taking something they
computers Black Friday, the opening day or not face the wrath of the person. If you’re going to get want to buy. If push comes to
-Blu-Ray and DVD of the Christmas shopping feistiest shopping day of up that early anyway, just shove, there will be black eyes,
players extravaganza. the year. To help settle the drive to the store and be a bloodshed, and even deaths.
Literally millions of people dilemma, here are some pros social butterfly. That’s right; people literally
-Blu-Ray discs and partake in Black Friday every and cons about Black Friday. You have seen the pros; die shopping on Black Friday.
DVDs year. Black Friday, the day First, let’s start with the now, here are the cons of Those low-priced heels must
-Video game consoles after Thanksgiving (Nov. 23 pros. Black Friday. have been worth it.
-Video games this year), marks the first Really, it’s all about price. So, you have just eaten Knowing these facts has
day no moral barriers stand This is the whole reason Black more food than you’re not driven away Black Friday
-Memory cards and between consumers and Friday exists in the first place. comfortable admitting and consumers. In fact, numbers
flash drives Christmas shopping. Prices for most retail items watched enough football…. of Black Friday participants
-Headphones/ All stores selling potential will never be this low again actually, it’s impossible have grown each year, with
presents mark their prices
earbuds down to unbelievable lows on
until next year’s Black Friday. to watch enough football. people less and less swayed by
Jeans for $10! Assassins Anyway, you’re sitting on sanity and their own personal
-eReaders: Kindle, Black Friday. A pair of shoes Creed 3 for $15! iPads for your couch as the late hours safety while being more and
Nook, etc. that normally sell for $30 will $200! It would be unwise to of Thanksgiving start to creep more influenced by the feeling
-GPS systems: go for less than $10 on Black pass up this opportunity for a on you. Do you A) go to your of spending.
Friday. With everything from once-a-year deal. nice, soft, comfy bed and So, there are the pros and
Garmin, etc. flat screen televisions to cars, If only the Black Friday sleep for hours on end with cons of Black Friday. If you
-Printers video games, iPods, electric phenomenon applied to a full tummy and thoughts of really, really, really need to
-Memory foam razors, LEGOs, clothes, something other than TVs football dancing in your head, get your shopping done, Black
Mattress toppers dolls, machetes, and chia and pants, like gas prices, or B) stay up past midnight Friday is for you. If you’d
pets hitting prices so rock tuition rates, or taxes. One and fight off crazy people rather avoid being stampeded
-Toys bottom that the Flintstones can dream… trying to break your arm over to death or getting punched
-Keurig Coffee are thinking about staking out Doing it yourself is what an Easy Bake oven? in the face for taking the last
Brewing Systems Bedrock’s Fossils ‘R Us this counts. If you’re going to send Unless you are unknowingly fancy dining set, just stay
year, the appeal of one-time your lists with your friend a mind-controlled zombie of home and catch up on your
-Vacuum cleaners prices is too great for most or mother, you’re not only a corporate America, you go for sleep.
-Cordless drills consumers to pass up. horrible friend/child, you’re option A! Is it really worth it
Certainly every great