Shoppers are expected to spend at least £10bn this week as the UK continues its affair with Black Friday, the US-inspired discount day.
Most of the action takes place online in this country, with shoppers choosing to bargain hunt from under the duvet using their phone or laptop rather than queueing up outside stores in the early hours.
Spending is expected to be up this year as more stores join the event, but experts say bargains may be harder to find as stores battle rising costs and inflation.
Spending is expected to be up this year as more stores join the event, but experts say bargains may be harder to find as stores battle rising costs and inflation.
Moneysavingexpert.com advises shopping around and researching the items you want to buy rather than relying on discount promises from retailers. They may be offering “70% off” their own price, but it doesn’t mean the same item isn’t cheaper elsewhere.
Sticking to a shopping list of items you actually want, using price tracker tools such as Camelcamelcamel and watching out for discount codes are also a good idea.
Finally, be wary of “too good to be true” prices – quite possibly they are – so carefully check terms and conditions and buyer reviews for sites you’ve not used before offering very cheap prices.
Consumer watchdog Which? also suggests checking retailers’ returns policies before buying. Don’t assume you can return a sale item that you change your mind about.
Amazon UK
What’s happening? Black Friday kicked off for the US website on 17 November and runs until just before midnight on Sunday 26 November. Reflecting its increasing interest in high street retail, Amazon UK is also running a pop-up “experience” in Soho Square, central London, with games, themed workshops, craft tutorials and advice from “gifting experts ”.
Where? Online promotions can be found here and there is a special page dedicated to British small businesses taking part in the sale day here.
What? It is offering 20% off Sony, Samsung, Motorola, Wileyfox and Nokia smartphones and up to 31% off TVs as well as daily deals.
AO
What’s happening? The online electrical goods specialist began a fortnight of deals on 13 November.
Where? Online promotions can be found here.
What? Deals include De’Longhi Eletta Cappuccino Bean to Cup coffee machine for £399 and KitchenAid Artisan stand mixer for £299.
Argos
What’s happening? The retailer launched two weeks of deals on 15 November. Head office staff will join regular store staff and 10,000 additional seasonal workers in store on Black Friday.
Where? Online promotions can be found here.
What? The company promises discounts on more than 60,000 including up to half price off toys, 25% and buy one get one half price on jewellery. Top deals include a Dyson V6 Absolute cordless handstick vacuum cleaner for £229.99 and Zinc Smart X hoverboard for £199.99.
Asda
What’s happening? For the third year in a row the supermarket will not be carrying special Black Friday deals but it will have some promotions as part of its pre-Christmas activity.
Where? Online promotions can be found here.
Asos
What’s happening? The online fashion and beauty retailer is expected to knock 30% off pretty much everything as it has done in the last three years.
Where? Online promotions can be found here.
What? Asos is offering up to 60% off women’s shoes and accessories and men’s jeans and chinos.
B&Q
What’s happening? The DIY chain is running deals on Black Friday, 24 November, and Cyber Monday, 27 November.
Where? Find out about promotions here.
Bensons for Beds
What’s happening? The bed specialist will run offers up to and including Black Friday.
Where? In stores and online here.
What? Deals include the Arlington TV bed for £959 and Amalfi Backcare bed with matching mattress for £399.
Boots
What’s happening? The health & beauty chain kicked off its promotions on 17 November.
Where? Deals are in stores and online here.
What? Deals include Remington Protect hair straightener for £39.99, Oral-B Smart 6 electric toothbrush for £80 and Beckham Classic Blue men’s fragrance, 40ml, for £10.
Carphone Warehouse
What’s happening? The mobile phone store began its 18-day Black Tag sale on 17 November.
Where? Instore and online here.
What? Deals on handsets accessories and broadband packages including £200 off the Samsung Galaxy S8 or the iPhone 7 with a contract on the chain’s iD network.
Currys PC World
What’s happening? The electrical goods chain has been running “why wait” deals from 13 November and kicked off its Black Tag sale on 20 November with more than 4,000 products on offer.
Where? Instore from 7am on Friday. Online promotions can be found here.
What? Deals include a Dyson V6 Animal at £184, a Sony Bravia 43” Smart 4K Ultra HD HDR LED TV for £599 and a Fitbit Alta for £69.99.
Debenhams
What’s happening? Debenhams’ Black Friday deals started on 20 November.
Where? Online promotions can be found here.
What? Debenhams is offering 10% off beauty and fragrance and up to 40% off toys as well as daily deals on clothes and boots.
Habitat
What’s happening? The homewares retailer launches Black Friday deals from 8am on Friday online, they will continue until Sunday 26 November
Where? Instore and online here.
What? Up to 50% off selected lines including Marteau copper ceiling light for £75, Chester velvet corner sofa for £1,750 and Jerry white dining table and four orange chairs for £540.
Halfords
What’s happening? The bike and car parts retailer kicked off its Black Friday deals on 21 November. It says more than 5% of the UK population visited its website during last year’s event.
Where? Customers can sign up here to view the best deals and enter Halfords’ Black Friday competition.
What? Bike deals include the Pendleton Somerby reduced by £50 (or 17%) to £230; the Carrera Hellcat men’s and women’s mountain bikes reduced by £180 (or 41%) to £250; and some kids’ bikes reduced by up to 60%.
Harveys
What’s happening? Deals will run from now up to, and including, Black Friday.
Where? Instore and online here.
What? Theodore 3 Seater sofa for £649 and Jennings three-seater recliner sofa for £749.
John Lewis
What’s happening? The department store will kick off its own Black Friday deals from 00.01 on 24 November. Because of its “never knowingly undersold” promise it will be price-matching some competitors throughout the period.
Where? Online promotions can be found here.
What? Electrical products, technology, fashion and items for the home.
Lidl
What’s happening? The German retailer is taking part in Black Friday for the first time, launching a day early on 23 November.
Where? in stores
What? The best deals include a bottle of Comte de Senneval champagne for £8.99 and a Deluxe Jamón Serrano Reserva ham leg for £29.99.
Marks & Spencer
What’s happening? The high street chain will not be participating in Black Friday again this year but is running some promotions ahead of Christmas.
Where? Online promotions can be found here.
What? Three for two on selected hats, scarves and gloves and 20% off Christmas hampers.
Morrisons
What’s happening? The supermarket launched its Black Friday deals early, including a lot of promotions on alcohol.
Where? Online promotions can be found here.
What? There’s a bottled ales advent calendar for £30, a gin advent calendar for £60, wine and prosecco magnums for £10 as well as a Baylis & Harding bag set for £5.
Notonthehighstreet
What’s happening? The online store is running a weekend sale from 00.01 on Friday.
Where? Online here.
What? Up to 50% off all categories including home & garden, fashion and jewellery.
Pets at Home
What’s happening? The pet store will kick off 11 days of deals on 24 November.
Where? In store and online here.
What? Grand Climber Cat Activity Centre for £63 and a medium-sized Wainwright’s Adventurer Scallop Dog Bed for £30.
Sainsbury’s
What’s happening? The supermarket will be offering a small number of deals on Black Friday but the event will be more low-key than previously. A handful of 24-hour stores will be open in the early hours this year. Since its merger with Argos last year, the chain is also home to dozens of the catalogue shop’s outlets which are offering lots of Black Friday deals.
Where? In some stores and online here.
What? Deals yet to be unveiled.
Superdrug
What’s happening? Superdrug launched its Black Friday deals on 20 November.
Where? In some stores and online here.
What? Deals include Makeup Revolution 12 Days of Christmas Gift, reduced by 50% to £30 and Ardell Lash Look Book reduced by 65% to £19.99.
Tesco
What’s happening? The supermarket launched its online deals on 20 November and they will run for a week. Over 700 stores will participate in the event with 187 Tesco Extras closing at 1am and reopening at 5am on Black Friday for early risers looking for bargains.
Where? Online promotions can be found here.
What? Deals include a Marcy Antero cross trainer reduced to £129.99 from £299.99; a Minky Premium Plus ironing board at half price at £17.50 and a Playmobil school bus reduced to £13.50 from £25.
Wickes
What’s happening? The DIY retailer is running Black Friday deals online from 22 November until 5 December.
Where? Deals are online only and can be found here.
What? 15% off on brands such as Dulux and Bosch with code Black15 at online checkout for click and collect. 30% off selected branded power tools and 10% off selected ladders.
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