Everything You Need to Know for Black Friday 2020
Black Friday will be here soon—like really soon! As the festive season approaches, bringing its tidings of joy, so too does that special weekend whereby shoppers are presented with each retail outlets’ best deal and biggest price cuts. That being said, it is going to be a little different this year. Sure, there will still be a good deal or two to be had, and a person can still get the best value if they look hard enough. But the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is still being felt around the world, and it stands to reason that the Black Friday promotions will look different too.
That’s why it’s a good idea to get ahead of the curve on this one and do a little research on the sales weekend before it gets here. Time is running out—so here is everything you need to know about Black Friday 2020.
Black Friday is still on!
Despite it’s best efforts, Coronavirus hasn’t managed to deprive us of one of the modern world’s time-honored traditions. Black Friday is still happening. Without an ounce of quit in them, most retailers are getting in on the chaos that the weekend entails, going to great lengths to ensure that a great deal will reach you.
But not as you thought it would
Unlike the previous year, 2020’s Black Friday is no doubt going to be a more digital affair. Social distancing measures are varied worldwide (the UK is still in lockdown until the week after Black Friday), so you’re not going to see the rush to get in through the doors, or the stampede to the electronics department, or the fight over the last bargain—which actually doesn’t sound so bad, come to think of it.
If you’re looking for toys and games for the younger members of your family, then you are in luck. With the exception perhaps of stock levels, you are going to have no problems going on to the internet and doing most of your Christmas gift purchasing through online stores. Even if it’s the first time you’re online shopping, it’s a fairly easy learning curve and most companies want your business, so it stands to reason that they’ll make the process as streamlined as they can.
Speaking of which, most online stores are going to go out of their way to get your interest. If you are a beginner to the online shopping process then don’t just look for the best price before you make a decision. One online store may offer something you want to purchase for less than another, but they might not ship to where you are or cost a small fortune to do so. Likewise, something might be a tad more expensive in one store than another, but they might have free next day delivery. At this time of year, the latter is particularly useful.
Remember, not everything can be purchased online
If there is one thing that the pandemic has taught us, it’s that more companies have the ability to deliver their goods, even if they didn’t have the option to before. But there are always going to be those things that you’ll probably want to check out in person, instead of via a computer screen. Plus, there are things that are unlikely to be delivered for simple reasons such as size or practicality.
You can’t deliver a test drive, for instance, and whilst trying to purchase a new car online is a hassle that no one particularly wants, it’s hampered even more by the fact that you need to really experience driving it before signing the papers at a car dealership.
On a related note: Black Friday may actually be the ideal time to get the best trade-in deal for your car. Although car dealerships don’t tend to base price quotes on their automobiles at the time of year, there’s still a little room for negotiation (especially with the influence of the festive spirit!) Autotrader magazines and sites are filled with new and as-new vehicles, which, although still technically a used car, have a limited amount of mileage on them. If Black Friday is the zeitgeist for shopping, then trading in your old car for a shiny new automobile is no doubt best timed as before the festive season. Who knows, getting down to the car lot and putting forward a down payment for a used but as-new car like a convertible could be a great way to treat yourself before the Christmas madness kicks in!
Innovation is the name of the game!
Let’s face it, we all have that relative that we just do not know what gift to get for them for the holidays. They either don’t know what they want, have everything that they want already, have tastes that change with the trends, or just don’t follow trends at all.
So with the incongruity of the Black Friday weekend, maybe it’s a good idea to think outside the box this time. Arts, crafts, DIY kits, and intelligent toys and games are worth taking a look at and will be a great way to solve this predicament. There’s nothing that’s quite like a custom gift for a loved one that says that you really are thinking of them.
But here is a suggestion you might not have thought of—make your own stickers, and give them as gifts. Customized stickers can be made to include photos of family members, or to leave a signature mark on something you love. Custom stickers are a unique purchase and are a great novelty gift for young and old friends and family members, alike. Creating custom stickers with Shutterfly is an easy process, you only need a photo and/or a message and they will ship the stickers your way. You can even create a custom sticker for someone else to put wherever they please, or put your own stickers on wrapping paper or cards to make your gift a little more memorable.
Black Friday may be over, but…
It’s not the end of the world if you miss out on most of Black Friday. The event may be named after one day, but generally, Black Friday lasts for the full weekend. But even then, many retailers start their Black Friday deals early, and though they may not continue on after the last weekend in November, you can pretty much rest assured that most shops will be keeping promotions going into December as well. Actually, Coronavirus precipitated some stores to have deals run throughout November itself.
As with much of 2020, the day itself is a little unpredictable. There’s no guarantee that there won’t be the pushing and shoving that has become synonymous with the early hours of Black Friday. If you are a vulnerable adult, it might be best to avoid the crowds and preserve your physical health.
If you can’t shop online and must shop at the brick-and-mortar stores, then good luck. But be prepared. If you are a new mother, then you will be well advised to stock up on as much breast milk as you can before you head out. The rush of Black Friday often means there aren’t as many milk pump session opportunities as there normally are. That being said, here is an idea for you new moms out there: get yourself a wearable breast pump such as a willow breast pump. Unlike traditional pumps, willow breast pumps are wireless, don’t make much noise, and have suction cups that can be fitted inside a bra for a discreet pump session as you shop.
It’s perfectly fine to enjoy yourself!
It’s been a difficult year, so if retail therapy is what you need, then enjoy Black Friday. Remember, a salesperson is only doing their job if they ask you to wear a mask, there might be similar items available if someone snags the last one, and always, always, be safe.