‘Tis the season, and no, we don’t mean Christmas (yet). We’re talking about Black Friday, which incidentally is the perfect time to shop for Christmas presents, since many retailers will be slashing their prices for it. This year, it falls on Friday 29th November, but on Oxford Street, you can shop deals at your favourite retailers for most of November. Here’s how to make the most of those sales – and we’ll make sure to share the best bargains with you when the sales start, so stay tuned.
1. Get ready after Halloween
Historically, Black Friday sales – which originally started in the United States – would only happen on actual Black Friday, which always falls on the last Friday of November, just after Thanksgiving (it’s basically their equivalent of Boxing Day). However the past few years, the sales have been starting earlier and earlier, sometimes at the beginning of November. So be prepared to shop the best deals right after Halloween.
2. Sign up to newsletters and use social media
Different retailers have different start dates for their sales and deals, so the best way to find out when that might be is straight from the horse’s mouth. Sign up to your favourite shops’ newsletters and follow them on social media, as then you’ll be the first to know when prices drop. You might even get early access to the sales, so it’s definitely worth doing.
3. Set up online accounts in advance
If you’re planning on doing your shopping online, then make sure you create online accounts before the sales start. Why? Because time can be of the essence when you’re grabbing a bargain, and you don’t want to waste precious moments having to fill in online forms to create an account. That way, you can shop and checkout much quicker.
4. Save your favourite items
Likewise, creating wishlists of your favourite items is a must. This way, you can navigate straight to them when the sales start, and buy them faster. This is particularly useful for popular items which sell out fast. If you’re shopping in store, you can still print out your wishlist so you stay focused when you shop. Making a note of item references can be useful too, so you can ask staff to locate them for you.
5. Shop around
Some retailers, such as John Lewis and Currys, will price match other retailers that selling the same item for less to make sure you aren’t out of pocket, so if you’re after a specific item, make sure you’re getting the best bargain you can. This is especially useful for higher ticket items such as tech.
6. Be smart with timing
Some retailers will reduce items even further for Black Friday and Cyber Monday (which falls on Monday 2nd November), so if you don’t urgently need something, then it could be worth waiting to see if you can get an even better deal at the end of the month. That said, you do also take the risk of your preferred item selling out, so do weigh the pros and cons to avoid disappointment.
7. Get gift receipts
Like we said, Black Friday is the perfect time to buy presents for your loved ones ahead of Christmas. But if you aren’t sure they will love their gifts, make sure you get gift receipts so they can exchange them after the festive period. Most retailers will offer an extended return policy during that time too.
Share the love
Back to What’s happening
