Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving and is widely considered the kickoff of the holiday shopping season in the United States. It has grown into one of the busiest — and most profitable — retail days of the year, with U.S. online Black Friday sales alone topping $10.8 billion in 2024 and expected to climb even higher for 2025. DemandSage
The story behind the name “Black Friday” is actually pretty interesting:
- 1800s – “Black Friday” and financial panic: The phrase was first used in the 19th century to describe financial crises, including the 1869 gold market crash. HISTORY
- 1950s–1960s – Philadelphia traffic chaos: In the early 1960s, Philadelphia police started calling the day after Thanksgiving “Black Friday” because of the traffic jams, packed sidewalks, and crowded stores as people poured into the city to shop and attend the Army–Navy football game. HISTORY
- Retail spin – “Back in the black”: As the term spread, retailers didn’t love the negative tone. They started promoting a more positive story: that this was the day they finally went from being “in the red” (losing money) to “in the black” (turning a profit) for the year. HISTORY
Today, Black Friday has evolved into a full shopping season, with deals stretching from early November through Cyber Monday. But the core idea is the same: this is when the deepest discounts show up on big-ticket items like mattresses, furniture, and electronics. DemandSage
Why Black Friday Is the Best Time to Buy a Mattress
Mattresses are one of the smartest Black Friday purchases because:
- They’re a high-ticket item where a good sale can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
- Manufacturers and retailers often coordinate special holiday promotions you won’t see at other times of the year. DemandSage
At Mattress Gallery Direct, that means savings up to $1,000 on select mattress and adjustable base packages from some of the most trusted names in sleep:
- Tempur-Pedic – iconic pressure-relieving memory foam and hybrids
- Sealy – dependable comfort from one of America’s longest-running mattress brands
- Stearns & Foster – hand-crafted luxury with premium materials
- Spring Air – supportive, American-made designs with advanced comfort technologies
- Legendaire – resort & hotel–style mattresses built for long-term durability
Black Friday lets you pair maximum manufacturer incentives with local expertise so you’re not just getting a “cheap bed” — you’re investing in the right mattress at the best price.
Why Shopping Local Beats Big Box and Online
On the surface, it might look like big box stores or online-only mattress brands are cheaper. But once you factor in expert fitting, durability, service, and real comfort, a local family-owned mattress store usually wins — especially on Black Friday.
Here’s how a locally owned mattress store like Mattress Gallery Direct stacks up against big box chains and online shopping:
Black Friday Mattress Buying Comparison
| Feature / Benefit | Local Owned Mattress Store (Mattress Gallery Direct) | Big Box Store | Online-Only / Bed-in-a-Box |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Friday Savings | Deep promos plus expert help to maximize value; up to $1,000 off select premium packages | Flashy promos, but more “one-size-fits-all” deals | Coupons & promo codes, but often on mid-grade or imported builds |
| Quality of Brands | Curated lineup: Tempur-Pedic, Sealy, Stearns & Foster, Spring Air, Legendaire – focus on long-lasting support | Mix of name brands and “house brands”; quality varies widely | Many private-label or imported mattresses with limited transparency |
| Expert Fitting & Consultation | Certified bedding specialists trained to match mattress to body type, health needs, and sleep position | Basic help; staff usually cover many departments | No in-person fitting; quizzes and chatbots only |
| Try Before You Buy | You can feel multiple models side by side, compare firmness, and test adjustable bases in person | Limited models on display, often rushed experience | No test-drive; you guess based on descriptions and reviews |
| Long-Term Comfort & Durability | Focus on American-made, higher-density materials and better support systems for long-term comfort | Some durable options, but many promotional models built to hit a price point | Many are lower-density foams that can soften or sag faster |
| Service After the Sale | Local team to help with comfort adjustments, warranty questions, and future upgrades | Service policies vary; often routed through corporate | Service and claims handled through email/chat; can be slow or frustrating |
| Delivery & Setup | Professional delivery, setup, and removal of old bedding available | Often available, but sometimes extra and less flexible | Usually curbside or basic bedroom delivery; setup and haul-away may cost extra or not be offered |
| Supporting the Community | Your dollars stay in the local economy, supporting jobs and community growth | Profits flow to national corporations | Profits go to remote corporations; little local impact |
| Real Overall Value | ⭐ Highest – best blend of price, quality, expertise, and long-term comfort | ⭐⭐ Medium – ok deals, but less personalized and more hit-or-miss | ⭐ Lowest – may seem cheap upfront, but mis-fits and shorter lifespan can cost more over time |
Local stores also have a unique advantage: they can tailor their showroom to what works best for people in your area, rather than stocking the same generic mix of mattress models across the country. The Small Business List
Why Mattress Gallery Direct Is the Smart Black Friday Choice
When you combine Black Friday discounts with local expertise, Mattress Gallery Direct becomes one of the best places to shop for a mattress in Middle Tennessee.
Here’s what sets a store like Mattress Gallery Direct apart:
- Focus on sleep, not just sales
You’re working with non-commissioned bedding specialists whose job is to help you sleep better, not just push a special of the week. - Partnerships with health professionals
Mattress Gallery Direct works with local chiropractors and sleep-related professionals for ongoing training and referrals, which helps ensure you’re getting advice that respects spinal alignment, pressure relief, and real-world comfort needs. - Curated premium brands
Instead of hundreds of random options, you get a refined selection of proven brands: Tempur-Pedic, Sealy, Stearns & Foster, Spring Air, and Legendaire — all chosen for performance, support, and durability. - Local ownership, local impact
Shopping at a locally owned business keeps far more of your money circulating in the local economy, supporting jobs, services, and community growth. The Small Business List - Real savings, not just hype
Big box stores might advertise huge “percent off” sales year-round. But local mattress specialists can target deals toward the right models for your body and budget so you’re not overpaying for features you don’t need — or stuck with a bed that fails early and needs to be replaced.
Putting It All Together
Black Friday has grown from a chaotic post-Thanksgiving shopping day in Philadelphia to a global retail phenomenon that moves tens of billions of dollars each year. HISTORY+1
If you’re going to take advantage of the savings, it makes sense to put those dollars into something you use every single night — your mattress — and to do it somewhere that:
- Gives you up to $1,000 off select Tempur-Pedic, Sealy, Stearns & Foster, Spring Air, and Legendaire mattress and adjustable base packages
- Provides expert, in-person help to match you with the right comfort and support
- Invests back into the local community, not just a corporate balance sheet The Small Business List
That’s exactly what you get when you choose a local, family-owned mattress store like Mattress Gallery Direct for your Black Friday mattress shopping.