Black Friday

The words 'Black Friday' bring images of either great sale prices or long lines at Department Stores but it wasn't always that way.  The term originated in within the Philadelphia Police Department in 1961 to describe the traditional heavy pedestrian and vehicle traffic on the day after Thanksgiving and the general black and busy day it was going to be for the average cop on the beat that day.  It stayed a regional term till the mid-1970's and it was at that time that the commercial definition that we are familiar with today emerged, as the start of the period of the year when retailers would start operating in the "black" due to increased holiday sales.

Small Business Saturday

Small business Saturday is a trademark of the American Express Company.  It was first observed in 2010 as a counter to Black Friday and Cyber Monday which cater directly Big Box Retail, Large Department Stores and e-commerce.  Small Business Saturday is focused on local Small Business and shoppers are encourage to patronize brick and mortar business that are locally owned.