My Fave Five: Places to Shop During Black Friday

Local Small Businesses

When offered the chance, every shopaholic should support locally owned businesses. Of course, Target and Walmart have every necessity from body wash to a bike tire pump, but taking a little bit more time to travel from store to store while shopping locally is way worth it.

Black Friday originated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where families would begin their Christmas shopping immediately after Thanksgiving, and to kill time before the Saturday Army-Navy football game that used to take place the weekend after Thanksgiving. Police officers would work a long day full of facilitating lines, arguments and preventing shoplifting.

In order to avoid long lines and having to put up with others’ nasty attitudes, small businesses, which are more likely to use locally grown items, and recycled materials and have items with higher qualities, are the place to shop during the hectic Black Friday.

Etsy

Whether it’s on Black Friday or the newly added, Cyber Monday, since 2005, Etsy is a place to support small business owners.

Etsy prides itself on spectacular customer service, ethically made products and its made-to-ship system. These individual business owners on Etsy are able to lower prices with the same quality during the Thanksgiving Day weekend.

The endless options of different products listed on Etsy allow all shoppers to find something special for themselves and whoever they’re shopping for. These products can be easily personalized or altered to the purchaser’s liking when communicated with the seller.

Etsy is a fantastic place to shop year-round, but for Black Friday it should be on everyone’s to-do list.

Macy’s

Some would say that Macy’s favorite time of year is November. After showing its dominance in the omnichannel retail company sector of business during the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the store always has the best deals.

Black Friday is an infamous day for all people to buy their family members Christmas presents; Macy’s is a perfect place to buy everyone presents.

The department store has the newest Lego set for a little brother or sister and the newest matching Michael Kors wallet and purse for anyone’s grandma.

Macy’s, although different from a small business, donated over $11 million all over America to support communities in need throughout 2022, so no need to have an ethical dilemma when purchasing an aunt a new candle.

Walgreens

Black Friday isn’t always about buying others gifts for the long holiday season. Walgreens has almost all household necessities that keep increasing in price.

With inflation rising and income staying the same, stocking up on laundry detergent, dish soap and shampoo and conditioner with great deals should be an integral part of Black Friday for every family’s breadwinner.

And, who is to say that a gift full of household necessities is a bad gift? Shopping for stain remover, toothpaste and Windex isn’t fun anyways.

Walgreens might never be glamorous or elegant, but having a clean and stocked house sure is. Even without a rewards account, everyone’s hometown Walgreens will have great deals with low prices.

Anthropologie

Anthropologie is notorious for having elegant pieces, cute accessories and luxurious home items, but for a great and expensive cost. But when the items look as expensive as they are, covetousness can turn into obsession.

So, just wait for Black Friday! Anthropologie uses Black Friday to truly get rid of everything not in season and to introduce new trends and items to the rack and customer.

During Black Friday, time is of the essence, so shopping at a place where kitchen bowl sets and maxi skirts are both deluxe and stylish is valuable.

Shopping somewhere as lavishly appointed as Anthropologie is not in a lot of peoples’ norm, but during Black Friday it can be an exception.

Natalie Simone is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email nvs5790@psu.edu.