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The Student Newspaper of DePaul University

The DePaulia

The Student Newspaper of DePaul University

The DePaulia

The Student Newspaper of DePaul University

The DePaulia

Black Friday kicks off holiday season

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Families are just wrapping up their Thanksgiving feasts as food coma begins to set in due to the surplus
of turkey and abundance of side dishes and desserts. Ironically the urge to become a couch potato is
instantly replaced with the desire to become a part of the Black Friday madness.
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Only in America will you find the short lived essence of pure thanks and gratitude for things that truly
matter in life, like family and friends, being overshadowed by greediness and the willingness to literally
buy into midnight door buster sales at various retailers.
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According to Forbes.com, this year’s Black Friday sales brought attention to the fact that consumers are
in control of sales. How exactly did these numerous shoppers gain this newfound power?
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Forbes.com explained, “Others preferred to shop online or simply deferred until a time that’s more
convenient. As e-commerce and personalized discounts become more popular, the “One Day Sale” is
losing its appeal.”
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With the popularity of big one day sales plummeting and online shopping becoming increasingly
prevalent, it is still crucial to note how much money is being spent via internet.
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The latest results from comScore reported that Black Friday witnessed $1.042 billion in online sales,
causing a 26-percent rise from last year’s Black Friday Sales, which aided 2012 in becoming the most
abundant online spending date recorded.
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Tina Russell, 47, of North Riverside decided to remove herself from the chaotic shopping scene and opt
for online deals.
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“In the past I would always go out to the stores, sometimes even for the midnight deals,” she said. “Now
I just don’t even bother and find deals online that have free shipping or that I can’t find in the store.”
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While Russell prefers steering clear of the stores, Anthony Rescetti, 21, of Chicago of enjoys part taking
in the deals and even appreciates the holiday atmosphere.
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“The fact you have to wake up at the crack of dawn hoping to grab the last of what you want and that
you’re willing to compete with others to get it is pretty crazy,” he said. “Not to mention that you’re half
asleep, but it is all to get a new deal and I have done it plenty of times and like it.”
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Regardless of which shopping route consumers choose to travel down, shoppers are still contributing to
the overwhelming truth that the holiday hype still withholds some type of alluring power.
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Call me old fashioned, but decorating Christmas trees, jamming out to classic holiday tunes and realizing
that the spirit of giving rather than getting is always more rewarding and is what truly composes the
authentic meaning of Christmas.
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The idea that the holiday season kicks off with immediate sales and that Black Friday serves as the main
attraction is a bit unsettling, yet the billions of dollars being spent says that shopping constructs a large
portion of the holiday season.
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Russell said it best, “Whether you get out there and spend like crazy and really indulge into Black Friday
or stay at home and do so online I really hope the Christmas spirit somehow still stays alive.”
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