Well, more like dark Friday, with the norther that blew in yesterday. Temps dropped into the 50s overnight, with gusty north winds (occasionally gusting over 30 mph) and 56º when I got up this morning. No shopping for us; anticipating a quiet Christmas. There were years when shopping was like a sport for us on this day; I don't miss that.
I went for a walk this morning instead of my usual bike ride. Fleece under a wind jacket, stocking cap, and gloves. I know some of you in the frozen northland will be laughing at my bundling up for 56º... we are acclimated to this sub-tropical climate. Looking at weather this morning (yes, still a weather nerd), it was 25º in Forest City, Iowa, this morning, where I'll be heading with the motorhome in a couple weeks. I don't think I can acclimate enough for that.
When I got back from my walk, Joan had the electric fireplace turned on. While it does have heat, I appreciate the ambiance. Doesn't hurt to have a big furry cat on your lap, as well. :-)
I have a different recollection of what the term "black Friday" means... in my younger years, I managed a store (well, 2 stores) for a now defunct retail chain (Salkin & Linoff). Black Friday was an indicator of how we were doing; not in terms of sales for that day, though. If you were "in the black" by the Friday after Thanksgiving, you would typically be showing a profit for the year. Sales during that month between Thanksgiving and Christmas would typically be how much the store would make (the profit) for the year. Some folks are under the impression that retail stores generally make 50% "profit" on each sale. While the mark-up on most goods is 50%, by the time all the costs of doing business are figured in, a typical retail store is hopefully breaking even by this date. The sales during this next month are critical for a store to show any profit. And you thought it was only farmers who work all year for that one pay-off?
That 50% mark-up on most good is known as a keystone mark-up. By the end of the year, when sales and costs are figured, a typical retail store will hopefully have a net profit of 5 to 7%. All things considered, that small profit margin seems like a lot of work. Think that's not much - a typical grocery store would be happy to show a 2% profit. Yes, for every dollar you spend at the grocery store, the store makes 2¢.
And that's my 2¢ worth for the day.
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