Black Friday 2025 Explained: Date, History, Early Amazon Global Deals, India’s Flipkart and Croma Offers, Best Beauty, Fashion, Smartphone and Home...

The countdown is on, and the annual shopping storm is already gathering speed. If you've felt the subtle, almost mischievous shift in energy this month, you're not imagining it. Retailers worldwide have quietly begun stretching their arms, cracking their knuckles, and preparing for one of the biggest shopping weeks of the year. Yes, Black Friday 2025 is nearly here, and like every year, it arrives with its own blend of history, frenzy, discounts, and the sort of deals that can turn the most restrained shopper into a determined bargain hunter. What began decades ago as a post-Thanksgiving clearance event in the US has now snowballed into a global retail ritual—one that sprawls confidently across continents, including India, with enthusiasm that borders

on festive. And this year, with early sales, AI-assisted shopping tools, and a month-long cascade of deals, the Black Friday buzz is unmistakably louder, brighter, and far more competitive than ever before.

What Is Black Friday?

Black Friday is traditionally known as the Friday immediately after Thanksgiving in the United States, marking the unofficial beginning of the holiday shopping season. While the term now carries a certain commercial weight, its etymological history is surprisingly chaotic. The term first originated in Philadelphia in the 1960s. Police used the term "Black Friday" to describe the traffic jams and chaos downtown the day after Thanksgiving as hordes of people flooded into the city. It wasn't exactly a flattering nickname, but retailers, nothing if not endlessly inventive, rebranded it by the 1980s with a positive spin—saying that businesses finally moved from financial losses "in the red" into profits "in the black." Fun fact: Black Friday became so popular that by the 2010s, shoppers in the UK started to line up outside stores at midnight for American-style deals. The trend became so powerful that even countries without Thanksgiving adopted the sale day, simply because the world loves a good bargain.

When does the Black Friday sale start in 2025?

Black Friday 2025 falls on 28 November, but—and here's where things get interesting—the sale season no longer respects a single-day schedule. The event has been stretched by retailers globally into a multi-week shopping marathon. This year, early birds were spotted long before the calendar officially reached the holiday weekend. Amazon, for example, has fired the first shot with its Black Friday Week kicking off on 20 November at 12:01 am PST and rolling right through to 1 December. It's an extended affair, designed for deal scouting rather than frantic last-minute clicking. Walmart, Target, and other global giants have matched the pace to push out early offers on fashion, electronics, home décor, and gifting essentials. The tradition has evolved so much that many shoppers now refer to this entire period as “Black November”—a month where your wallet is constantly under negotiation.

Why is Black Friday important?

The importance of Black Friday lies not just in the discounts it offers but in the fact that it determines consumer behaviour and retail trends worldwide. It sets the tone for year-end shopping, influences inventory strategies, and even determines what will be hot sellers during Christmas and New Year. For e-retailers, it's the ultimate stress test: Websites are optimized, supply chains are tightened, and customer service teams are put on high alert. For shoppers, it's the perfect occasion to buy everything from big-ticket electronics to wardrobe staples at prices that may not repeat until next year. Fun fact: Some economists refer to Black Friday as a "retail barometer," since strong sales during this period often indicate a healthy consumer market heading into the festive season.

Black Friday 2025: What's Happening Globally?

Internationally, Black Friday has taken on a life of its own. Amazon's early sale has already promised heavy cuts across tech, beauty, apparel, home goods, and toys. From up to 50 per cent off on Christmas trees to steep reductions on best-selling electronics, this year's offerings resemble a festive treasure hunt.

AI-powered shopping assistants are soon to help buyers compare deals, track prices, and even create shopping lists. This will be a new digital era for bargain hunters: Amazon's Rufus, among other bots, is here. Walmart has joined the bandwagon, with offers on televisions, audio equipment, smart home devices, winter fashion, and giftable accessories. Experts suggest shopping early, in particular for products like gaming consoles, premium headphones, and home gadgets—the items that notoriously sell out within hours.

Black Friday 2025 in India: What to Expect

India is no longer just a witness to this global Black Friday wave; rather, it's riding on it. With retailers embracing the sale season with much enthusiasm, shoppers can get substantial discounts across nearly every category. Flipkart will begin its sale on November 23, offering discounts of up to 80 per cent across categories like electronics, fashion, appliances, and more, sweetened by extra bank offers. Myntra will throw open its doors on 26 November, offering a discount of 40–80 per cent off on top fashion and lifestyle brands, just in time for winter wardrobes and the wedding season. Croma joins in on 26 November and is offering as much as 80 per cent off on electronics, including laptops, cameras, and smart devices. Tata CLiQ is expected to offer up to 70 per cent off on menswear from 25 November, making it a strong contender for festive fashion deals. Amazon India is mirroring the global timeline of Black Friday, which starts on 20 November, promising up to 75 per cent off on electronics and home essentials. Nykaa, the beauty favourite, joins in the sale on 20 November too, offering Buy-1-Get-1 deals and similar deep cuts across skincare, makeup, and haircare.

Categories With the Biggest Savings This Year

Electronics

Expect robust deals on smartphones such as the iPhone series, Samsung’s premium S-line, Canon’s EOS 1500D camera, boAt’s Rockerz ANC headsets, laptops, and gaming accessories.

Fashion

Winterwear, footwear, sportswear, and festive collections from brands such as Nike, Adidas, Puma, H&M, and Marks & Spencer will be given substantial markdowns.

Beauty & Personal Care

Platforms like Nykaa and Boddess will lure shoppers with bundle deals, combo packs, and considerable percentage discounts on trending beauty products.

Home & Lifestyle

Kitchen essentials, furniture, décor items, and seasonal gifting sets will also headline the Black Friday offerings at several platforms. The Bottom Line Black Friday 2025 is shaping up to be one of the most expansive shopping events in recent years. With retailers rolling out early deals, extending sale windows, and introducing smart shopping tools, November has effectively become a month-long savings festival. Whether you're in the market for a new phone, updating your winter wardrobe, or hunting for the perfect gift, this year's Black Friday promises a deal-filled adventure worth bookmarking. If you're planning to shop, consider this your sign to prepare your wishlists, compare early prices, and dive into the frenzy, for the best bargains tend to disappear before you can say "add to cart."