Without doubt, Black Friday is the biggest shopping event of the year. Savvy shoppers can snag amazing savings before, during and the weekend after Black Friday. This event is so popular, it has spilled over to other countries too.
A few years ago I was in Panama during Black Friday, and was surprised to find that there were chartered buses coming from other nearby countries, full of people coming to shop for Black Friday deals.
Recently, I was chatting with a friend who is studying in Sweden. Except that on this particular day, she wasn’t studying, she was shopping – it was Black Friday ‘Week‘.
To keep the shopping event going, ‘Cyber Monday’ was introduced. New savings or extended deals continue on the Monday after Black Friday, and into Cyber Monday.
Known as Cyber Monday, retailers offer consumers huge savings when shopping online. Cyber Monday has become the next big shopping event after Black Friday.
Big Shopping Events
1. Cyber Week
Most stores extend the event further with ‘Cyber Week’ deals. The entire week after Black Friday is just full of exciting discounts. Like Black Friday, it is a popular shopping event celebrated in other countries too.
In order to extend the holiday shopping season and to follow the online shopping trend, merchants figure out the last day consumers can shop online and still get delivery before Christmas without having to pay extra delivery charges. In other words, this is the last day where you can get free shipping on your online purchase, and still get it in time to place it under the Christmas tree. This day is known as Free Shipping Day.
Since its beginning in 2008, it is the next big shopping event after Cyber Monday. ‘Free Shipping Day’ isn’t a set day though. It typically happens the second week in December, and changes based on delivery days affected by weekends.
Seasonal Deals
2. Free Shipping Day 2023 is on December 12
All the retailers participating in Free Shipping Day have the agreement to provide free shipping with no minimum purchase required. In addition, delivery is guaranteed before Christmas. This is the perfect time for procrastinators to shop or to get last minute gifts.
The list of participating merchants grows every year. So far there is about 334 retailers, and it includes popular stores like Amazon, Best Buy, Target & Walmart to name a few.
Benefits of Free Shipping Day
For consumers, this isn’t just a day to get last minutes gifts though. This is also a day to avoid shipping charges when you buy things that you normally would have to pay shipping for.
For example, I don’t have an Amazon Prime account, so in order to avoid paying the extra charge of shipping, I would have to spend a minimum of $25. However, Amazon is offering free shipping, no minimum. The minimum amount you must spend to get free shipping for most stores are usually higher.
For retailers, this is a way to get more traffic into your store. After all, the day was started as a way to extend the holiday shopping season. Participating in this event is an opportunity to get brand recognition.
3. Christmas Day – Before and After
The last sale event before the most anticipated holiday of the year = Christmas. The day before Christmas is a great day for in-store shopping. There’s barely anyone around in the stores.
The supermarkets are a different story however. That’s a mad house.
The day after Christmas is also a mad house. Everyone tends to return, exchange or buy. Retailers that sell holiday decor are the most popular. This includes Hallmark. Not just in-store but mainly online too, as online there are more shopping options.
4. White Sale
Dubbed the White Sale after ‘winter snow’, this major sales event happens in January. Typically found on sale are home products such as bedding, home decor, organization.
Retailers also start facing out excess merchandise to start making room for new merchandise. This is when new appliance models start coming out. Given that usually there are minor changes to appliances, if you don’t care for having the latest, this is a great time to get that new stove or washer you’ve had your eye on.
Home products you may like:
Home Products
Tips on how to get the best deals:
What else can you do besides shopping around and making a list of what you want?
- Make sure you use your rewards program when purchasing something. You’ll be able to rack up points which will turn into savings.
- Pay with a credit card that has a high cash back amount.
- Pay with Fluz app. Why Fluz? Because it doesn’t interfere with other cashback shopping apps. You’ll earn a percentage cash back when you pay for your transactions either online or in-store. Fluz can be used with cash back apps, shopping portals or whatever other savings and coupons you use.
- Look for promo codes, and other discounts to save.
Retailers will definitely offer discounts and sales all year around. As a frugal shopper, I find that Black Friday is definitely the time to find the lowest and best prices.
Retailers will definitely offer discounts and sales. This is the last sale event before the most anticipated holiday of the year = Christmas. Don’t miss it.
Happy Savings, TaLis
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