Black Friday: What you need to know

Black Friday is fast becoming the best day to hunt for a bargain, this year it falls on November 27th.

People rush into a Walmart store in Miami, Florida, on 25 November 2005 (Getty)

*Already a Black Friday expert ? Scroll down to find out about the best deals, and tips on how to surive without making any damage to your budget:

When is Black Friday?

Black Friday is always the day after Thanksgiving. This year that falls 27th of November.

So what is Black Friday?

Black Friday is fast becoming the best day to hunt for a bargain whether you’re in the US or the UK. In other words, it’s the best day of the year to go shopping, just as long as you’re wearing lots of protective clothing and don’t mind fighting in the aisles.

Shops offer quite substantial discounts in a bid to persuade their customers to start their Christmas shopping early. Although traditionally the discounts are on for one day only, some shops such as Amazon, offer discounts during the week running up to D-Day.

Why are we talking about it?

Because it’s bigger than ever. Already the biggest shopping day in the US, this year the trend is spreading to the UK with British people looking forward to an entire day of discount.

British shoppers are expected to spend £1.07 billion according to research from Experian and e-retail industry association IMRG.

Really, even bigger than last year?

An estimated £810 million was spent online last year with UK shoppers spending an astonishing £562,500 per minute.

While e-retailer Amazon sold 5.5 million items on Black Friday last year.

Black Friday chaos paid off for retailers last year as Britons spent £7.9 billion every week in November – the biggest shopping frenzy for a decade. The spending spree meant retails sales roles 6.4 per cent in the year to November.

“Black Friday”, what a strange name…

Nobody is entirely sure of where the name comes from. For some it is the day retailers books go from red to black as they make their biggest profit.

Others say the American police was the one to name Black Friday during the 1950s and 1960s because of the chaos that ensued in the city after Thanksgiving as shoppers flocked to the high street sales while spectators travelled to the annual Army vs Navy American football match.

Enough about history, are the shops open as usual on D-Day ?

Although Black Friday will happen on November 27, some retailers will start their week as of Monday November 23. Retailers in the UK will open as early as 6am although the best deal can be found online when they go live at midnight.

This makes me want to shop, I feel like I am going to spend too much...

You're not the only one. With only a few days to go before Black Friday, one in ten UK consumers fear they will spend more than they can afford on one of the UK biggest shopping day of the year, according to consumer behaviour research.

We asked Hannah Maundral Editor in Chief at finance online comparison website www.money.co.uk to share the best tip to survive the day without making any damage do your budget, here is what she said.

Black Friday deals are starting early this year:

Retailers are trying to ease pressure in stores and save their customers from shopping fatigue this year by starting their sales early or extending them to a week.

Amazon, Argos and Carphone Warehouse are among the retailers starting Black Friday discounts long before November 27 in a bid to snare shoppers' cash before the big day comes around.

Feeling like you can't face the crowds avoid them altogether

Here's a little guide for bargain hunters who want to start their shopping early.

The best deals already available and what to keep and eye on

Amazon

The online retail giant has launched its Black Friday bargain deals five days ahead of time. More than 7,000 deals will be featured on the website from midnight on Monday November 23, with new offers going live every ten minutes, according to Amazon.

Prices will be cut by an average of 40 per cent. The biggest discounted items in cash terms being the Stuhrling women's watch, reduced by nearly £300 to £81.32 as well as a rowing machine, reduced by £250 to £799 from a starting price of £1,049.

Discounts will be divided between “lightning deals”, which available in limited quantities for a short period of time, and “deals of the day” on selected products for one day only. Prime members get access to lightning deals 30 minutes ahead of regular shoppers.

Argos

With discounts on a week early than the day itself check the retailer’s website for discounts on Star Wars, Peppa Pig and Disney Frozen toys.

The has taken on 700 more vans than last year and more than 3,000 additional drivers in order to back a new same-day delivery service in preparation for the shopping binge day.

It is also advising its customers to register for a special account in order to be notified of all the best deals. According to last year’s data the retailer says the quietest time to browse on its website and make purchases is from 3 to 4 am with many deals going online at midnight.Click HERE for their Black Friday deals page.

Boots

Boots launched its “Pre-Black Friday” deals ending on Thursday 26 November.

Save to £87.50 on Clarisonic pedicure sonic foot transformation kit and smaller offers on perfurmes and beauty product.

Check their website on friday for deals on flagrances, aftershave and electrical goods with the store promising "something for everyone".

Carephone Warehouse

Their deals include a Samsung Galaxy S6 available for free at £22 per month and an HTC A9 available for free at £23.50 per month.

Both save £200 on the cost of buying the handset upfront. They are also offering "spike" deals that are available for a day or two only, such as the Nexus 5X available on Monday and Tuesday only at £18.50 per month, saving £200 on the cost of the handset.

Check their Black Friday deals page to see all their offers.

Currys PC World

The UK’s biggest electrical retailer is offering thousands of great deals from top brands including Nespresso, Dyson, HP, Bosch, Samsung, Sony, Beats and LG, with 30 per cent more deals than last year and 40 per cent more stock to ensure customers are able to make the most of the savings. Best deals we found include the Samsung.

The Samsung 60JU6000 60 inch 4K TV available at £899 for the first time, representing a saving of £600. For the health conscious shoppers high-powered nutri-blenders are available at their lowest ever prices across the Black Friday period, starting from £39.

Debenhams

Check the department store Black Friday webpage for discounts on TVs and appliances, as well as furniture on the day itself. Until then they have up to 30 per cent sales on womens' clothes, and 40 per cent off toys, gifts and games.

Ebay

Ebay are launching eight days of consecutive offers from 8am until Monday 30 November.

Over 9 million Ebay fans are set to visit the auction site for this year's Black Friday, with 25 items being bought every second.

The first offers are on the site already and you can see it on their Black Friday deals page.

Save up to £40 per cent on an external hard drive at £89.99 instead of 129.99 or start your christmas shopping with official Disney and Marvel toys for £6.45 only.

John Lewis

John Lewis has joined the Black Friday team. The store has recruited an extra 2,000 members of staff to deal with deliveries this season, and invested "tens of millions of pounds" in capacity to get orders out on time. They say they will be matching their competitors prices with offers on laptops, televisions, small and large electricals and more.

Offers will be available on the November 27 and can be found on here.

Strada

Strada invites you to avoid the busy shops and enjoy a £1 pizza, pasta or risotto at one of their restaurants. A glass of Strafda' prosecco will also be reduced to £3.95.

The Italian high street restaurant offer is valid from 12 until 5 pm on Black Friday and you will not need to queue ! Sign up on Strada's website and keep an eye on your inbox on Wednesday afternoon, their team will be sending out an email containing a link to a webpage where you can book a table for their special Black Friday event.

Tesco

Supermarket giant Tesco has announced it will shut 250 Tesco Extra stores between midnight and 5am on Black Friday to allow staff "more time" to prepare for the 24-hour sales spectacular.

Tesco said: "This year we’ve got lots of exciting deals planned for our Extra stores and online, but we know some customers like to get started with their shopping early which is why our Clubcard Boost event runs from Monday 2 November until Tuesday 27 December and includes our biggest ever range of categories.

Keep an eye on their Black Friday deals page.

M&S

The supermarket adopted ‘Black Friday’ for the first time last year with 30 per cent off homeware and clothing and up to 20 per cent. Expect more or less the same this year.

Keep your eyes on the Marks and Spencer Black Friday deals page from the 26 November.

Discounts are to be found in stores and online across all departements wit huge savings off M&S fashion collection and homewares.
 

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