Last year’s Black Friday broke records. But for most makers, it’s not make-or-break. Here’s what happened in 2024: U.S. online sales that day hit $10.8 billion, a 10.2% increase over the previous year. Yet in-store sales rose just 0.7%, and foot traffic actually dipped in lots of regions. So sure, today is still big. But the subtext is important: Big numbers don’t automatically translate into breakthrough results for every brand. Here’s the subtle truth for product makers: If your brand is...