The folks who track these sort of things are predicting that this will be the biggest and best Black Friday that we have ever seen. This from a recent article in Forbes Magazine:
Thanksgiving week brings out all the deals and all the shoppers – accounting for approximately 16.7% of retail sales for the season. With three major shopping days, Thanksgiving Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday, retailers consider this the beginning of the holiday shopping season and expect their books to go from red to black over the long weekend. The National Retail Federation estimates that 19% of annual retail sales occur between Black Friday and Christmas.
In another life, I never thought nor cared much one way or the other about Black Friday. However, now I find myself kinda liking it mostly I guess, because I am on the other side of the seller/buyer fence than I was pre-owning Buzzy’s. The shopping-is-good ethos has a whole new meaning to and for me. (Just more proof that owning a business can and will change your perspective on a lot of things.)
Business considerations aside however, there is a whole nother aspect of Black Friday that I like and it does not involve shopping per se. It’s about today being simply a day to relax and have a good time. I love being the host at Buzzy’s Country Store where folks drop in to laugh, joke and enjoy themselves. When long time friends and folks from out of town drop in to catch up and interact with those of us still here in the hood, it gives me a great sense of satisfaction that Buzzy’s is where they visit to do just that. For example, the other evening, Thanksgiving eve, with a full house of folks laughing, partying and having a good time, I silently said to Buzzy “Hey guy, your spirit lives on. Wish you were here to share it.”
Speaking of Black and being in a bar like Buzzy’s, Clint may have made a late appearance here but he nailed it after he did so. (Note, the bar was called My Place back in 89 when Clint filmed this video there in Sealy, Texas. It is now called the Saddleback Saloon (click here) and still open for business.
P.S. Got some good friends paying a visit to Buzzy’s this afternoon, so drop in and say hello to them. May even have a Black Friday special for you.
P.S. P.S. Speaking of killing it, one word – Dolly! If you missed it (click here.)