My American friends really know how to layer tradition with commerce.

In four days, they’ll combine family feasts with football and pilgrims. Then right at peak gratitude — boom — the biggest shopping event of the year kicks off!

As a Canadian who celebrated Thanksgiving back in October, I’m still amazed by how Black Friday has transcended borders.

What began as a Philadelphia traffic nightmare now shapes global product strategy.

BFCM (Black Friday Cyber Monday) creates a perfect psychological storm.

Nothing accelerates the “flip” from want to need like watching those wish-list items suddenly become attainable.

Add social validation, sprinkle in some FOMO, crank up the urgency…

Kapoof! Magic happens.

And the most intriguing part isn’t even the discounting.

It’s the timing.

Smart product makers have spent months building anticipation, crafting genuine value propositions, maintaining brand integrity. Now they’re ready to support quick decisions and deliver stellar experiences.

This is consumer psychology at its finest.

The dog brain sees scarcity and salivates. The tank brain rationalizes with “but I’ve wanted this all year.” 🥺

Future regret looms over hesitation.

Somewhere between the gratitude and the gravy, need takes over.

Are ya ready for it?

Laurier

P.S. To everyone prepping for the big weekend — may your metrics exceed expectations and your servers stay strong!