Nov. 22, 2020
By Tara Tiyaloglu
Staff Writer
Black Friday is traditionally one of the busiest shopping days of the year. However, with Covid-19 cases on the rise and flu season approaching, this year’s shopping experience is sure to be different from past years.
Many stores such as Best Buy, Home Depot and Macy’s are expanding their Black Friday deals to a month or even more to avoid big crowds and maintain the safety of their customers. Big-box retailers like Target are also spreading out their in-store and online sales instead of packing them into a single weekend.
For the past two years, freshman Elise Ferschweiler has been going shopping on Black Friday with either her family or a friend. She said she likes shopping at clothing stores including American Eagle, Cotton-On, Garage, Hollister and PacSun.
“I definitely like shopping in person more [than online] because I just think if you have any questions on a size or anything, you could just try [the clothing] on,” Ferschweiler said. “I always try it on [so] I don’t spend my money on something that doesn’t even fit me.”
She said because of Covid-19, the Black Friday shopping experience is sure to be different in 2020.
“This year certainly went through changes no one expected,” Ferschweiler said. ”People this year should be cautious and be able to respect any store’s protocol. At this time of year, we really should watch out for everyone, especially yourself.”
Freshman Manya Gowda said she does not mind that in-store Black Friday traditions are shifting because she prefers shopping from the comfort of her home.
”Online shopping has always been a preference of mine. I feel like it’s easier, and I could avoid the long lines that most people dread waiting on,” Gowda said.
”People this year should be cautious and be able to respect any store’s protocol. At this time of year, we really should watch out for everyone, especially yourself.”
Gowda said Black Friday is far less important than how it is portrayed in the media.
”Black Friday doesn’t really seem like a holiday [and should not] be considered as one. It doesn’t celebrate something or someone like an actual holiday does,” Gowda said.
Like Gowda, sophomore Ali Celik said he does not mind this year’s toned down Black Friday festivities.
”It just passes as a normal day to me,” Celik said. “Depending on how you celebrate Thanksgiving or what kind of person you are, it may or may not make you distracted from the whole point of this holiday.”
While Celik does not enjoy in-person shopping, he said his mother is a shopping fanatic. Celik said when he was younger, he would go to the mall or a shopping center every weekend with his mom and soon became tired of it. Now, he said he usually just goes to the mall when he is looking for soccer shoes and soccer balls.
Even though he will not be doing any Black Friday shopping, Celik said he knows some people will not let the pandemic stop them from making in-person purchases on the biggest shopping day of the year.
“Malls and shops are all open,” Celik said. “Black Friday does draw in a lot of customers and people in general.”
