Black Friday not all it’s cracked up to be

It seems to come around with increasingly alarming regularity, but once again we find ourselves standing on the brink of the festive season. And, as is rapidly becoming a rather dispiriting tradition, all the chaos and mayhem is set to kick off with “Black Friday”.

Millions of pounds will change hands as everything from perfume to purses and technology to toys is offered at (allegedly) knock down prices.

Cynics will suggest that many of these offers already existed, with shoppers simply being exploited to part with their hard-earned cash in the entirely erroneous belief they are getting a one-off bargain. Those cynics may well have a point.

Others fear the true meaning of Christmas is being lost, submerged under a tide of rampant consumerism. Their concerns, too, are valid.

So, whether bargain hunting or not, perhaps Black Friday should also come to be regarded as a day to set aside at least a small amount of time for quiet reflection.

We all live hectic lives, but the festive season should be an antidote to all the madness – a time for families to come together, putting all the normal stresses and strains of modern life to one side.

It is incumbent upon us all – retailers included – to try to preserve Christmas as first and foremost a season of goodwill, not ringing tills.