What is Black Friday?
Hey Tigers! As we head into the holiday season, the hectic shopping starts to pick up. Beginning on Black Friday, there are many stores with so much to offer. But what is Black Friday?
This name came from police officers in Philadelphia who started using the name “Black Friday” to refer to the crazy shopping that happens the Friday after Thanksgiving and the days leading up to the holidays. Black Friday represents the fall’s end and celebrates the start of the holiday season with crucial sales and discounts throughout stores across the U.S.
Here are the top 3 stores with the best Black Friday deals in 2025, perfect for shopping for family, friends, loved ones, and more.
Amazon
Starting us off is Amazon. I mean, are we even surprised? Amazon has been a top favorite for shopping for many years now. “Get Ready For Black Friday- Deals so big, you can’t miss them. 3 days until Black Friday week” (Amazon).
Let’s dive in to the deals. To begin, we’re going to be looking at the electronic devices. Each device has about $100 or more off each item. For example, the Apple iPad with 256 GB is usually $649, but on Black Friday, they will be on sale for $549.
Toys are going for 30%-40% off, home decor/appliances for 20%-50% off, and beauty supplies are 30%-50% off. Although Amazon has some amazing deals on their website, there is a delivery fee for non-Prime members. And, with Amazon being strictly for online shopping, you can’t get a feel for what you will be purchasing. Overall, however, Amazon has gifts for every age, price, and interest, and everything is easily accessible with sometimes even just one click.
Walmart
Walmart, another store with a big selection of gifts, is having deals up to 55% off. Specifically, 50% off of fashion, furniture, and tech and up to 55% off on toys and beauty, plus so much more. “Get ready for Black Friday Deals, November 25–30. Can’t wait for Deals? Don’t miss out on serious savings” (Walmart).
Comparing sales, Walmart may be the better option for purchasing gifts. For example, the Apple iPad on Amazon ($549) is $345 on Walmart’s website, and this is without factoring in Walmart’s Black Friday price. On Black Friday, the Apple iPad will be 50% off, bringing the total cost down to $172.50. Another perk of Walmart is that it’s a local store, and there’s one usually nearby everyone’s home. This makes it easy to go in to store to pick out gifts, instead of ordering them online. If you prefer knowing exactly what you’re buying, going in person is definitely for you.
Target
Last but not least, we have Target. “Massive deals during Black Friday at Target! Shop the Black Friday sale for electronics, toys & more” (Target). This is Target’s headline for their Black Friday sales, getting customers ready for the holidays and the spirit that comes with it. Video games/electronics are 60% off. For example, the same iPad mentioned on Amazon and at Walmart is $450 at Target, and, with the Black Friday sales, it becomes $379, making it cheaper than Amazon’s price but more expensive than Walmart’s price. Target is also a local store, so if your preference is to go in person or at least pick up with your have purchased, then Target is another place that will suit your liking.
Conclusion
As with everything, there are pros and cons to each store that we’ve explored and discussed in this article. But, if I were you, I would definitely at least go and check out these stores to get the best possible deals on potential gifts this year!
Sources:
Cabral, Melissa G. “Black Friday Cyber Monday: How Smart Brands Prep for the Biggest Sales Weekend of the Year.” Yahoo! News, Yahoo!, www.yahoo.com/news/articles/black-friday-cyber-monday-smart-170006083.html. Accessed 24 Nov. 2025.
“Black Friday 2025: The Best Black Friday Ads & Deals.” BlackFriday.Com, blackfriday.com/. Accessed 24 Nov. 2025.
Vaughan, Don. Why Is It Called Black Friday? | Britannica, www.britannica.com/story/why-is-it-called-black-friday. Accessed 24 Nov. 2025.
“Expect More. Pay Less.” Target, www.target.com/?TCID=PDS-319991062&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=319991062&gbraid=0AAAAAD-5dfZEfpjo2aRHB_JjBxgInNfez&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2PeKsJ-DkQMVKivUAR3JIxokEAAYASAAEgJzKvD_BwE. Accessed 24 Nov. 2025.
“Expect More. Pay Less.” Target, www.target.com/?TCID=PDS-319991062&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=319991062&gbraid=0AAAAAD-5dfZEfpjo2aRHB_JjBxgInNfez&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2PeKsJ-DkQMVKivUAR3JIxokEAAYASAAEgJzKvD_BwE. Accessed 24 Nov. 2025.
“Walmart: Save Money. Live Better.” Walmart.Com, www.walmart.com/?&adid=22222222220220085369&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=e&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=521205638070&wl4=kwd-27665750&wl5=9021527&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&veh=sem&wl21=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=316516609&gbraid=0AAAAADmfBIq4htJIYuTApoApwo6L_Sg4X&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIsL7Fvp-DkQMV3i3UAR0jPAIbEAAYASAAEgJdovD_BwE. Accessed 24 Nov. 2025.
