The last Friday of November is not just any other day. As a self-proclaimed professional shopper, it comes as no surprise that Black Friday is, if not, my favourite day of the year. Waking up before dawn and heading to the outlets has been a family tradition ever since childhood. With years of Black Friday experience, I present to you my tips to conquer retail’s busiest day.
FORGET FRIDAY
The number one rule of Black Friday is to not wait until Friday. Some retailers starts dropping their prices on Wednesday, but don’t announce their sales until Friday morning. Don’t be fooled thinking that you’re the first person to take advantage of some deal (because you’re probably not)! Before you know it, you’re picking from left overs and that’s never fun.
Tip: Club Monaco is a perfect example of a retailer that lowers prices days before the main event. At times the sales leading up to Black Friday are even better than the deals offered on the ac
Plan Your Day
Be decisive and stick to a set plan. There’s nothing worst than a change of plans last minute. There will be lines so prioritize your favourite stores and must have items. Arrive early, prepare to navigate through crowds and expect a hard time to secure a parking spot. As dramatic as it sounds, Black Friday is a mission and in order to reap success, you need a solid game plan.
Tip: Typical wait to enter Prada Outlet is 10 to 25 minutes on a regular weekend. What more Black Friday?
CHECK ONLINE BEFOREHAND
Many stores have a website feature that shows how many of each item are in stock and at which location. This feature allows you to determine which mall to visit and which stores to hit up first. You don’t want to wait around in line for a specific item to not even be available in store. Now that’s called defeat.
Tip: Kudos to my dad for teaching me this tip. It’s not a hassle to ask an employee if something is in stock. If it is, reserve it and head into the store to finalize the purchase.
Dress Appropriately
It’s all about comfort. However, being comfortable goes beyond wearing broken-in shoes. Consider your outfit. If you’re heading to an outdoor outlet, check the temperature and dress accordingly. If you’re heading to an indoor mall, leave your jacket in the car. You don’t want to walk around in the cold and you don’t want to overheat indoors. Furthermore, you do not want to worry about holding a jacket while you shop. Last year, I had to ask J.Crew for an extra bag just to carry my infamous orange coat. I think you get the point.
Use SHopping Bags
Some shoppers are savage. I remember one year, Holt Renfrew dropped a classic Burberry button down to $78 (I mean that’s a steal). Considering this was the only size and specific style left in the store, I knew I had to walk away with it. Little did I know, a fellow shopper would try to grab it out of my hand despite carrying it around for a good 20 minutes. That being said, take advantage of shopping totes provided by retailers to conceal any desired purchases.
Tip: Despite crowds, some retailers may put your potential purchases in a secure hidden area while you browse around the store. Just ensure that all you retrieve all your items.
Screenshot Promo Codes
Throughout the week leading up to Black Friday, retailers email special barcodes or even post secret codes on social media. Maximize every chance to save money. Immediately screenshot codes to have them at your disposal without internet access. Some stores are located in areas with poor cellular reception. What an inconvenience to leave your queue in line just to access discounts!
Tip: Abercrombie and Hollister are some retailers that email promo codes to customers. From experience, have these codes saved in your photo library for easy access.
Get Gift receipts
Black Friday can lead to some serious, regretful purchases. With the busyness of the holiday season, doing returns may not even be possible. Therefore, getting gift receipts are crucial! Although some stores may not permit returns, you’ll have extended time to exchange your items or receive store credit. A regular receipt gives you a 2 week period, whereas a gift receipt gives you until a week after the holidays. Problem solved.
Tip: Be especially careful when doing impulsive sprees at designer stores. Some retailers (like Dior) do not permit returns or exchanges while others have no return/exchange time frame at all.
On that note, I am more than confident that you will successfully conquer the craziest shopping day of the year. Having curated these tips from years of experience, I hope these tricks will help you score the perfect gifts for everyone on your list. Happy Black Friday! May the sales ever be in your favour.
Candidly,
Jonah
