Nothing says “Welcome to the Holiday Season” more than standing in line, out in the cold, waiting for a store to open its doors at midnight for holiday shoppers that are poised to find the best deal. What is this madness we’re talking about? It’s Black Friday of course!
Before we share our 8 tips to conquering Black Friday and Cyber Monday, we thought it would be fun to share a little about the history of these infamous holiday season traditions.
According to History.com, Black Friday originally started in the 1950’s in Philadelphia. For several years, the term was associated with negative connotations, however, in the 1980’s retail stores were able to shake the negative connotations and it became what it is today.
Although Black Friday’s younger sibling Cyber Monday has only been around since 2005, due to its convenience, it has quickly grown into a popular alternative to braving the crowds on Black Friday. In fact, more than half of all Americans plan to do some holiday shopping on Cyber Monday.
Now that the history lesson is out of the way, let’s get into the fun part of this article: how-to successfully conquer Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
Plan and Prioritize
There’s a reason the holiday season is synonymous with stress. Shopping for everyone on your list and finding that perfect gift at the perfect price can be very stressful. One way to ensure success on Black Friday and Cyber Monday is to plan out what you want to get everyone weeks in advance. Once you have your initial list, prioritize it in order of importance then plan your shopping strategy around the list. This will make sure you get the most important items first.
Have a Backup Plan
Having a plan in place is the most important key to success but a close second is to have a contingency plan already mapped out. You never know how fast hot items will fly off the shelf during Black Friday, so having a backup plan is critical.
Use the Buddy System
Shopping with a friend or family member is not only a great way to make memories, but it is also a good way to get most of the stuff on your list. Once in the store or mall, you can split up and finish your shopping twice as fast.
Google Before You Go
A lot of stores will post Black Friday ads a little bit in advance so people have an idea of what will be on sale. Look through the ads for your favorite stores then plan your Black Friday shopping adventure around the stores that will have the best deals for your list.
Know Your Budget
This one is super important. It is easy to get sucked into the excitement of it all, and before you know it you’ve spent a small fortune on holiday shopping. Knowing your budget beforehand will help you shop smart and keep from going into debt. Another great way to stay on budget is to shop with cash, once the cash is gone, the shopping is done.
Understand the Difference Between Price vs. Cost
Black Friday is known to be one of the hottest times of the year to get a deal on electronics. If you plan on making a big purchase such as a TV, appliance, etc. do your homework. Sometimes a deal on a ‘cheap’ television turns out to be not so hot of a deal afterward. A cheap TV (price) may cost you more in the long run.
Signup for Company Newsletters
Here’s a little secret from the SATECH, Inc. marketing team: companies like to treat their loyal customers and subscribers to exclusive discounts. Signup for your favorite company’s newsletter and we can almost guarantee you will get a coupon code at some point. In fact, you can sign up for ours below.
Shop Safely
Whether you are Black Friday or Cyber Monday shopping make sure you are shopping safely. At the store, keep your purse and wallet close to you always. When shopping online, make sure the sites you buy from use a secure checkout process. Finally, don’t fight with other shoppers over an item. Yes, it may be the last one on the shelf but it isn’t worth getting hurt over.
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Happy Holidays!