A high point in the annual retail calendar is fast approaching. The Black Friday sales weekend starts on 23 November and runs for up to five days for some retailers who are offering off-the-charts savings across all retail categories. For shoppers, this is a highly competitive time – bagging the best deals requires forethought and a military-style strategy – so to help them win at their Black Friday shopping, the Takealot group (Superbalist included) has put together their top tips.
Tip 1: If you are shopping online, set your alarm for 11:30 pm on Thursday 22 November
Most sales start as the clock strikes 12 - Takealot’s starts at 12.01 - so make sure you have data and your Wi-Fi isn’t past its cap. Get into bed early and set a few alarms. By the time the rest of the world wakes up you have done your shopping and can be catching some restful winks before heading to work.
Tip 2: Create a wishlist so you can checkout ASAP on the day
The prices may change on goods for Black Friday, but the goods will already be there. Go online, create your wishlist in advance and then, when the sale starts, quickly go to your list, see which items are marked down enough and press ‘checkout’ to beat your shopping competitors to the bargain!
Tip 3: Do your homework
Get your hands on as many newsletters and flyers as you can. Like the Facebook pages and Twitter feeds of all your beloved retailers. Monitor their bargains closely. From early November, retailers will start to release their Black Friday weekend specials. Start your plotting and planning as early as possible and draw up a plan of action.
Tip 4: Have a plan of action on Black Friday
Some of your purchases may be in the real world and some in cyberspace. A good plan is to start with cyberspace early and then head off to the physical shops once you’ve done the calm and peaceful online shopping. Chances are, once you’ve been involved in a three-person scrum over the last Christmas turkey in the supermarket, you may only be capable of heading home and lying down...
Tip 5: Set a budget
Decide ahead of time what you plan to spend on the Black Friday sales and stick to it. You could quickly find yourself shopping for Christmas 2018, 19 and 20 if you are not careful. Be responsible and remember that the expensive festive season is coming up, so you’ll need a bit left over for this!
