Black Friday Frenzy: Warm Up!

Retail Rant or Rave?

Think about your shopping experiences. Share with a partner or small group:

• What was your best or worst shopping experience?
• What did you buy, or what were you looking for?
• Where were you (online, in a physical store)?
• What made it a really good or really bad experience?

Follow-up Questions:

• Did you feel pressured to buy something?
• Did you get a really good deal, or do you regret your purchase?
• How did the atmosphere (music, crowds, salespeople) affect your experience?

Black Friday Discussion Prompts: The Allure of the Sale

Work in small groups and discuss the following questions. Remember to use the vocabulary we just learned and support your opinions with reasons and examples. Try to engage with everyone in your group!

Part 1: Initial Reactions & Personal Experiences

1. What's your general feeling about Black Friday and Cyber Monday? Do you look forward to them, or do you find them overwhelming?
   
   
   
   
2. Have you ever participated in Black Friday or Cyber Monday sales (online or in person)? Describe your experience. Was it a positive or negative one, and why?
   
   
   
   
3. What kinds of products do you think people are most likely to buy during these sales events? Why?
   
   
   
   

Part 2: Deeper Dive into Consumerism & Marketing

4. Do you think these events truly offer significant savings, or are they mostly marketing ploys? What evidence supports your opinion?
   
   
   
   
5. Which marketing strategies (e.g., doorbuster, flash sale, scarcity tactics, price anchoring) do you think are most effective? Have any of them influenced your impulse buys?
   
   
   
   
6. How do concepts like FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) and instant gratification play a role in consumer behavior during Black Friday/Cyber Monday?
   
   
   
   
7. Is there a difference in how people approach online shopping (Cyber Monday) versus in-store shopping (Black Friday)? What are the pros and cons of each?
   
   
   
   

Part 3: Societal Impact & Ethical Considerations

8. What are the potential negative impacts of Black Friday/Cyber Monday on society, the environment, or local businesses? (Think about excessive consumerism and sustainable practices).
   
   
   
   
9. Should governments or organizations have a role in regulating these massive sales events? Why or why not?
   
   
   
   
10. Do you believe these events promote responsible spending or encourage people to buy things they don't truly need? Explain your reasoning.
    
    
    
    

Part 4: Personal Reflection & Future Behavior

11. After this discussion, how might you approach Black Friday or Cyber Monday differently in the future? Will you be a more conscious bargain hunter or avoid them altogether?
    
    
    
    
12. What advice would you give to someone who wants to shop responsibly during these sales?
    
    
    
    

Black Friday Shopping Spree: The Ultimate Deal-Hunting Challenge!

Objective:

Work in teams to acquire as many items as possible from your shopping list while staying within your budget and negotiating for the best deals. The team with the most items purchased and remaining budget (or closest to budget without going over) wins!

Players:

• Small groups of 3-4 students.

Time:

• 20 minutes (15 minutes for shopping, 5 minutes for tallying and presenting).

Materials:

• Each group receives one Shopping Spree Game Card (Teacher: prepare these beforehand. Each card should have a budget, a list of 5-7 desirable items, and a few

Black Friday Consumer Worksheet: Think Before You Shop!

Part 1: Vocabulary Review

Match the vocabulary word to its correct definition.

1. Doorbuster
   
2. Flash Sale
   
3. Impulse Buy
   
4. FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)
   
5. Bargain Hunter
   
6. Price Anchoring
   
7. Retail Therapy
   
8. Scarcity Tactics
   

Definitions:

a) An unplanned purchase.

b) A feeling of anxiety that an exciting or interesting event may currently be happening elsewhere, often aroused by posts seen on social media.

c) An item sold at a very low price to attract customers to a store.

d) A discount or promotion offered for a very short period of time.

e) A psychological pricing strategy where a high price is presented first, making subsequent lower prices seem more attractive.

f) Shopping to improve one's mood.

g) A person who actively seeks out products at reduced prices.

h) Marketing techniques that suggest an item is in limited supply or only available for a short time.

Part 2: Scenario Analysis

Read each scenario and answer the questions that follow. Use complete sentences and refer to the vocabulary and concepts discussed in class.

Scenario 1 :

• *Maria sees an advertisement for a

Black Friday Consumer Worksheet: Answer Key

Part 1: Vocabulary Review

Match the vocabulary word to its correct definition.

1. Doorbuster (c) - An item sold at a very low price to attract customers to a store.
   • Thought Process: A "doorbuster" is designed to get people through the door, usually with an irresistible, limited-quantity deal.
2. Flash Sale (d) - A discount or promotion offered for a very short period of time.
   • Thought Process: The word "flash" implies quickness, so a "flash sale" is a brief, intense promotional event.
3. Impulse Buy (a) - An unplanned purchase.
   • Thought Process: "Impulse" suggests acting on a sudden urge without much thought, hence an unplanned purchase.
4. FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) (b) - A feeling of anxiety that an exciting or interesting event may currently be happening elsewhere, often aroused by posts seen on social media.
   • Thought Process: The acronym itself stands for "Fear of Missing Out," directly matching the definition.
5. Bargain Hunter (g) - A person who actively seeks out products at reduced prices.
   • Thought Process: A "bargain" is a good deal, so a "bargain hunter" is someone who looks for them.
6. Price Anchoring (e) - A psychological pricing strategy where a high price is presented first, making subsequent lower prices seem more attractive.
   • Thought Process: An "anchor" provides a reference point. Here, a high price serves as an anchor to make other prices seem better.
7. Retail Therapy (f) - Shopping to improve one's mood.
   • Thought Process: "Therapy" implies something done to feel better, and in this context, it's connected to retail or shopping.
8. Scarcity Tactics (h) - Marketing techniques that suggest an item is in limited supply or only available for a short time.
   • Thought Process: "Scarcity" means there isn't much of something, so these tactics create the impression of limited availability.

Part 2: Scenario Analysis

Read each scenario and answer the questions that follow. Use complete sentences and refer to the vocabulary and concepts discussed in class.

Scenario 1:

• Maria sees an advertisement for a brand new tablet, originally priced at $700, now on sale for $350 for Black Friday. The ad says, "Limited stock available! Only 50 tablets at this price!" She doesn't really need a new tablet, but her old one is a bit slow. She feels a strong urge to buy it immediately.

1. Which marketing tactics are being used in this advertisement?
   • Answer: The advertisement is using price anchoring by showing the original $700 price before the sale price of $350. It also employs scarcity tactics with the phrase "Limited stock available! Only 50 tablets at this price!"
   • Thought Process: Identify the elements that correspond to the marketing terms: high original price is anchoring, and limited stock is scarcity.
2. What psychological phenomenon might be influencing Maria?
   • Answer: Maria is likely experiencing FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) because of the limited stock and the perceived excellent deal. The fact that she doesn't really need it suggests an impulse buy influenced by the desire for instant gratification.
   • Thought Process: Connect the emotional urgency to FOMO and the lack of necessity to impulse buying.
3. What advice would you give Maria to help her make a more responsible decision?
   • Answer: I would advise Maria to consider if she truly needs the tablet right now and if it fits her budget. She should ask herself if she would buy it at the full price if there wasn't a sale. It might also be helpful to wait 24 hours to see if the impulse buy urge passes.
   • Thought Process: Focus on critical thinking, needs vs. wants, and delaying gratification.

Scenario 2:

• David waited outside a department store for two hours on Black Friday morning to get a new large-screen TV. He managed to snag one of the "doorbuster" deals at an incredibly low price. However, when he got home, he realized the TV didn't have all the features he wanted, and he was exhausted from the crowd.

1. What kind of deal did David participate in, and why are these deals often effective?
   • Answer: David participated in a doorbuster deal. These deals are effective because they create excitement, drive foot traffic to the store, and often lead customers to make additional, less discounted purchases while they are already there.
   • Thought Process: Identify the term for the early-bird, low-price offer and explain its purpose.
2. What are the potential downsides of pursuing such deals, as illustrated by David's experience?
   • Answer: The downsides can include long waits, large crowds, impulse buys of items not truly needed or desired (like David's TV lacking features), and the physical and mental exhaustion from the stressful shopping experience.
   • Thought Process: List the negative aspects mentioned or implied in the scenario.
3. How could David have approached his TV purchase more effectively?
   • Answer: David could have researched the TV's specific features beforehand to ensure it met his needs, rather than just being drawn in by the low price. He might have also considered shopping online on Cyber Monday to avoid the crowds, if a similar deal was available.
   • Thought Process: Suggest proactive research and alternative shopping methods.

Scenario 3:

• Sarah loves shopping and often buys new clothes when she feels stressed or sad. She calls it her "retail therapy." During Cyber Monday, she spent a lot of money on several items that she didn't necessarily need, but they made her feel better in the moment.

1. What concept is Sarah engaging in, and what are its potential long-term consequences?
   • Answer: Sarah is engaging in retail therapy. While it provides temporary comfort, potential long-term consequences can include financial debt, accumulation of unnecessary items, and a failure to address the underlying causes of stress or sadness.
   • Thought Process: Define retail therapy and brainstorm its negative outcomes.
2. Do you think online shopping makes retail therapy easier or harder? Why?
   • Answer: Online shopping likely makes retail therapy easier because it is convenient, can be done privately, and there are fewer social barriers or deterrents compared to going to a physical store. The ease of a few clicks can lead to more frequent and less mindful purchases.
   • Thought Process: Compare online vs. physical shopping in the context of emotional buying.
3. What are some healthier alternatives to retail therapy that Sarah could consider?
   • Answer: Healthier alternatives could include exercise, spending time with friends or family, pursuing hobbies, practicing mindfulness or meditation, or seeking professional help if stress or sadness are persistent.
   • Thought Process: Brainstorm non-consumption-based coping mechanisms for stress.

Part 3: Critical Thinking & Reflection

1. In your opinion, are Black Friday and Cyber Monday more beneficial for consumers or for businesses? Justify your answer.
   • Sample Answer: While consumers can find good deals, I think these events are generally more beneficial for businesses. Businesses benefit from increased sales volume, clearing old inventory, attracting new customers, and generating significant publicity. Consumers, on the other hand, can be pressured into impulse buys or acquire items they don't truly need, sometimes leading to debt. The hype often leads to excessive consumerism which is great for profits but not always for consumer well-being.
   • Thought Process: Consider both sides and weigh the advantages for each party, using key vocabulary.
2. How can consumers protect themselves from falling for aggressive marketing strategies during these sales?
   • Sample Answer: Consumers can protect themselves by making a shopping list beforehand and sticking to it, setting a budget, researching products and prices in advance to avoid price anchoring, reading reviews, and avoiding shopping purely for retail therapy. They should also be wary of scarcity tactics and flash sales that create urgency.
   • Thought Process: List practical strategies for mindful shopping, linking them to counteracting marketing tactics.
3. Do you believe that these sales events contribute to a sustainable future, or do they encourage wasteful habits? Explain.
   • Sample Answer: I believe these sales events largely encourage wasteful habits and do not contribute to a sustainable future. They often promote excessive consumerism, leading to the purchase of disposable goods, increased packaging waste, and higher carbon footprints from manufacturing and shipping. While some may argue it helps clear old stock, the overall culture it fosters is one of constant consumption, which is unsustainable.
   • Thought Process: Connect the concept of high consumption to environmental impact and sustainability.