‘Black Friday’ is a phrase you will be hearing a lot of this week. It has taken over Boxing Day as the biggest shopping day of the year and in 2015, internet sales over the 24-hour period are expected to surpass £1bn for the first time in UK history.
So what is this Black Friday?
The annual shopping craze has been a huge success in America for years; traditionally landing on the day after Thanksgiving. Retailers offer huge discounts on masses of products in an attempt to lure consumers into spending their hard earned money in the lead up to Christmas. Naturally, UK retailers have now jumped on the bandwagon.
An estimated £810 million was spent in the UK on Black Friday last year – more than double the year before. Websites crashed, people fought and deals were there to be had, but after the incidents and scrums in the aisles last year, one particular retailer, Asda, has claimed it’s not getting involved in 2015.
Who’s Involved?
Fear not! Plenty of other retailers and e-tailers will still be participating and giving bargain hunters some festive deals. This year Black Friday will take place on Friday 27th November, however the majority of retailers, including Fantastic client, Skopes Menswear, will start their deals a little earlier, commencing their discounts the week of 23rd November.
Some friends and colleagues I have spoken to recently are sceptical about the event and question whether customers still get excited about the promotions and marketing surrounding ‘Black Friday’, do customers now expect to receive discounts all year round? Or is the anticipation and hysteria surrounding the big ‘discount day’ still as rife as ever?
So, the million pound question is, is it here to stay? If retailers gain the increased footfall / clicks as expected and make money then it’s here for the long run! This will more than likely result in retailers such as Asda regretting their decision to opt out of the event. One thing we do know is that customers love a bargain; so personally, I don’t think we can write Black Friday off just yet.
Where are the best deals?
Here’s a round-up of some of this year’s best deals selected by the Telegraph Online:
Amazon – The online giant received orders for more than 5.5m goods on Black Friday last year, selling 64 items per second, is kicking off its week of “lightning deals” as the clock strikes 12 on Monday 23rd November.
John Lewis – The store has launched its Black Friday website and, like last year, has promised to honour its Never Knowingly Undersold pledge and match its competitors’ prices.
Argos – Argos saw 660,000 visits to its website within one hour of launching its Black Friday deals, it is encouraging shoppers to pre-register online for quicker access to its best deals.
Currys PC World – The tech retailer has launched a price comparison app and is promising to match cheaper prices at its major competitors, including John Lewis, Argos and AO.com. I’ll more than likely be taking advantage of this as I need a new TV!
Over the entire five-week festive period, consumers are expected to spend £4.9bn on internet shopping, up from £4bn in 2014. Will you be taking advantage of the Black Friday discounts or will you be staying clear? Let me know your opinion on Twitter – @FantasticMedia or @BethanySaville
