Black Friday in Switzerland Explained

Black Friday is the most important day of the year for many Swiss retailers. But where did this practice start, how long has Black Friday been a thing in Switzerland, and can the promotions even save you money? This article from online comparison portal moneyland.ch explains everything you need to know about Black Friday.

When is Black Friday?

The “shopping holiday” takes place on the day after the US Thanksgiving holiday. Thanksgiving always falls on the fourth Thursday in November, so Black Friday falls on either the fourth or fifth Friday in November. These are the upcoming Black Friday dates for the next five years:

• 2023: November 24
• 2024: November 29
• 2025: November 28
• 2026: November 27
• 2027: November 26

Where did Black Friday start?

As you probably derived from the connection with Thanksgiving, Black Friday originated in the US. The term has been used there at least as early as the 1950s. The day marks the official start of the holiday shopping season because Thanksgiving is the last major holiday before Christmas.

Many US employees get the Friday between Thanksgiving and the weekend off. If that were not the case, it would likely have been difficult for Black Friday to establish itself, as people would not have the time to spend the day shopping.

Where did the black in black Friday come from?

There are a number of explanations for how Black Friday got its name. The most common explanation is that the huge volume of sales generated as the Christmas season kicks off drives retailers back into the black, financially speaking.

A more negative explanation is that the term was first used by traffic police to describe the chaos they had to deal with in urban shopping districts. Stores are said to have added the “black” to the Friday after Thanksgiving because employees were especially likely to take sick leave on that day – which also happened to be the busiest day of the year. In these cases, the term Black Friday describes an extremely exhausting workday.

Does Black Friday last just one day?

Black Friday is meant to be just the Friday after Thanksgiving. But the discount spree now extends to much more than just a single day. In the earlier days of web-based retail, online stores created Cyber Monday to compete with the Black Friday sales of brick-and-mortar stores. This takes place on the Monday after Black Friday. More recently, this has been extended to “Cyber Week,” with special sales from online retailers stretching from the Monday before Black Friday until Cyber Monday. Some retailers offer “Black Friday” sales throughout the whole month of November.

While the best deals are still normally reserved for Black Friday itself, discount hunters can benefit by tracking sales before and after as well. Many discounts only apply for a limited amount of time, or for a limited amount of stock.

Since when has Black Friday been “celebrated” in Switzerland?

Black Friday is a relatively new phenomenon in Switzerland. Manor became the first major retailer to push the shopping day when it launched its Black Friday sales in 2015. Other stores followed suit over the following years, and Black Friday sales quickly became an established practice. Today, nearly all Swiss merchants offer special Black Friday deals.

A small minority of retailers have resisted Black Friday adoption. Critics point out that neither the US Thanksgiving holiday nor the Black Friday shopping holiday have anything to do with Switzerland, and that the shopping frenzy encourages unnecessary consumerism.

Where can I find the most deals?

Black Friday deals have been exceptionally common at Swiss electronics dealers. Big annual fashion sales are also common. But nearly all Swiss merchants of all kinds offer special Black Friday discounts – primarily online.  

Can the promotions save you money?

Certain products are cheaper on Black Friday than at any other time of year. Mobile phones are a classic example. Manufacturers normally launch new phone models several months ahead of Black Friday. The prices charged for these new phones on Black Friday are often the lowest prices you will find until the new year. Older models are also offered with big discounts.

But not all Black Friday promotions are actually as good a deal as you would expect them to be. In some cases, the products being offered as Black Friday deals have been sold at better promotional prices in the past. In this case, it can make sense to wait until a better promotion comes along. Take time to inform yourself about the product’s standard price tag, and what prices it has already been offered at as part of special promotions. A useful tip: The Toppreise.ch price comparison platform and online retailer Digitec Galaxus both let see retrace the prices charged for items over the past months.

How hectic does Black Friday shopping in Switzerland get?

In the US, Black Friday is known for die-hard bargain hunters camping out outside of stores and massive shopping cues. The huge hype and tight limits on the best deals result in at least some strife between shoppers every year. In the most bizarre cases, Black Friday stampedes or brawls have even resulted in deaths.

In Switzerland, the onslaught on stores is much tamer. While you do get some shoppers who wait outside stores ahead of opening time, the big crowds normally associated with Black Friday have remained absent from the Swiss shopping scene.

One explanation for this is that most of the Black Friday deals are also available online. Going to stores in person is not necessarily needed. Another reason is that in Switzerland, Black Friday is neither a holiday nor a bridge between a holiday and a weekend. Many people cannot take off from work to go shopping. Swiss shops get a bit more crowded towards evening, as employees get off work and scurry to grab deals. But with Black Friday becoming more popular in Switzerland every year, we may see bigger crowds of shoppers filling stores in the future.

More on this topic:
Tips for getting the most out of Black Friday sales