Beat the Black Friday Door Busters with these Dr. Russ Bussters

Nov. 24, 2010 - PRLog -- Are you tired of all the "Door Buster" adds for Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving.  

For the last several weeks we have been continually bombarded with newspaper, television, radio and online ads about all the great shopping deals for what has come to be called “Black Friday.”

A day called “black” brings up thoughts of pessimism associated with an event like a stock market crash.  What are the origins of this day called “Black Friday?" Turns out initially the phrase was meant to convey a negative connotation about the day.  Then some positive “spin masters” associated with the retail industry figured out a way to give “Black Friday” a positive take.

Black Friday Pessimistic Outlook

In January of 1966, the Philadelphia Police Department dubbed the day after Thanksgiving "Black Friday."  The phrase was not meant to be a complimentary term of endearment. As the official opening of the Christmas shopping season it meant massive traffic jams, over-crowded sidewalks, and mobbed stores from opening to closing in downtown center city.  For the police involved in crowd control and cabbies and bus drivers involved in crowd movement it was nothing but a day long headache.

Black Friday Optimistic Outlook

After several decades of the negative spin, merchants began to object to such a negative term being used to describe one of the most important shopping days of the year.  In the 1980’s, merchants promulgated the idea that “black” meant going into the “black” financially for the first time of the year on the Friday after Thanksgiving.  Retailers got out of the “red ink” and into the “black” on this day; hence the “black ink” theory was born.

Either way “Black Friday” has come to mean a “massive shopping day” for consumer and retailer.  CNN reporter Parija Kavalanz writes about the “Dirty Secrets of Black Friday Door Busters” in order to warn us about what to expect and not to expect on this “shopping day.” She warns: “MOST WILL NOT BAG BEST BARGAINS THAT APPEAR IN MERCHANTS CIRCULARS.”

Is her warning PESSIMISTIC OR OPTIMISTIC?  I say it feeds optimism because a “Dr. Russ Buss Optimist” knows how to adjust expectations appropriately so as not to be unduly disappointed.  Being prepared for the “worst case scenario” is an important optimistic tool.

In the “Bussters” below I draw on key points of her article to help your “consumer-side” maintain an optimistic outlook under the duress of “Black Friday.”

Avoid the “Black Friday Doorbusters” with these Dr. Russ Bussters

1.    OPTIMISM is always about the VIEW.  To which view about “Black Friday,” pessimistic or optimistic do you subscribe?

2.    The fashion Guru’s inform me that Black and Blue do not go together.  If that’s the case don’t put on a “Blue Face” on “Black Friday.”

3.    Better take your umbrella even if it is a sunny day as most of those “doorbuster” specials have “NO RAINCHECKS and even if they do, don’t expect the item by Christmas.

4.    Wear some well made cowboy boots, chaps, “Ten Gallon Hat” and have your rope ready to curtail the possibility of a STAMPEDE like the one that killed a Wal-Mart employee in New York last year.

5.    Break out the reading glasses to read the fine print that says “minimum 2 per store” and know that might really mean the maximum.

6.    Take the phrase “While supplies last” at the bottom of the “Black Friday” ad to mean they will not last.

7.    A “derivative” in math, namely calculus, allows us to measure how fast something is changing in a given moment.  A “derivative” in retailing means it’s already changed and your not getting the top of the line model you were promised; the hope is that it changed so fast you will never know.

8.    Watch out when they convert your “limited supply deal” into an “on-line deal.”  Manufacturing delays could make you wait months for delivery.

9.    Ok, so you look forward to this day as an annual “outing.”  Great, go for it.  Have a good time, but keep your expectations in perspective.  You probably will not get the “doorbuster” deal, but you will likely find many other good deals.

10.    If your finding these suggestions pessimistic, remember the “skilled-optimist” has learned to manage expectations to avoid unnecessary disappointment, particularly when they cannot control, “While supplies last.”

For more optimism check out the Moment-to-Moment Optimism blog: http://www.drrussbuss.com

# # #

At Moment to Moment: Our mission is to teach "skilled optimism"- how let go of a negative in a moment and view life as one continuous learning curve with multiple "do-over" opportunities. Products include a daily blog, seminars, publications, speaking, radio show, & coaching.