Black Friday arrives in the UK on Friday 26th November, showering us with great deals for the festive season.

Black Friday is usually associated with hectic crowds, chaos and amazingly good deals. Some feel overwhelmed and anxious about the looming uncertainty of this unique day, but there are ways to plan ahead and get the best deals. Here are just a few ways to prepare for Black Friday 2021. 

What is Black Friday?

Black Friday originated in America in the 1980s and has become increasingly popular ever since. There are a multitude of theories surrounding how Black Friday came to be. The most significant theory is that Black Friday is the best day to turn a profit in the entire year, as it is in between Thanksgiving and Christmas. This means that profits turn from red to black, earning the name Black Friday. In fact, Black Friday is considered to be the biggest shopping day in the US.

When is Black Friday in the UK?

This year, Black Friday falls on Friday 26th November in the UK. After the pandemic changed the shopping experience for all of us last year, businesses are expecting large turnovers in 2021. Black Friday is not a new addition to the British holiday calendar. The first Black Friday was introduced to the UK by Amazon in 2010, with many customers earning low price deals on Amazon’s online platform. It was not until 2013 when Walmart-owned Asda brought Black Friday to its brick-and-mortar stores. Since then, it has been a huge success, with many stores following in their footsteps. Research has described that ‘The success of Asda’s Black Friday quickly caught on and many other shops introduced in store and online Black Friday deals in 2018 seeing the average person spending £346 on the sale.’

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How to prepare for Black Friday 2021

As mentioned previously, Black Friday can be a confusing time for both customers and businesses, with many fearing the unpredictability that often prevails. That being said, with some wise thinking and additional planning, you can get all of your Black Friday deals without the fuss.

Check online for earlier deals

The world of online shopping is growing larger every day, and Black Friday is no different. Many online stores present their deals a few days earlier, helping customers who cannot visit the stores still be able to revel in those Black Friday bargains. Not to mention, a new phenomenon has become associated with Black Friday, Cyber Monday. This is known as the Monday after Black Friday, where e-commerce retailers lower their prices to attract new customers. Therefore, you can get an extra day of deals without having to leave the house.

Set a budget 

It is tempting to flash the cash on days like Black Friday, especially when some deals seem too good to be true. However, it is always best to know your limits when shopping during this time. It is important to save your money, as well as spend it, helping you to still be mindful with your finances. 

See what stores are participating beforehand

Despite Black Friday’s immense popularity, not all stores participate in the day’s event. Thus. it is paramount that you check that your favourite stores are offering Black Friday deals before you go to visit them. Moreover, since Black Friday is a very competitive day for many businesses, it is a good idea to check beforehand so that you don’t waste time in an already busy shopping centre.

Pre-Book a parking space with YourParkingSpace 

Parking in shopping centres can be a difficult task at the best of times but Black Friday offers a whole new set of issues. At YourParkingSpace, we work hard to make parking more accessible, allowing customers to Pre-Book a parking space at a variety of locations across the UK, including restaurants, venues, and stadiums. Not to mention, we offer the best price guarantee, meaning that you will never pay more for a pre-booked parking space through our platform.  YourParkingSpace offers spaces in popular car parks across the UK such as:

This means you can Pre-Book and pay for your parking space through our platform and miss the rush in a heaving car park. Additionally, you can Pre-Book a parking space close to your favourite high-street shops, where there may be little to no on-street parking available. Therefore, you book a parking space in advance and avoid paying a higher drive-up price. YourParkingSpace offers an abundance of parking spaces available to Pre-Book close to your desired location, including privately owned driveways and garages, giving you a wider variety of convenient spaces to choose from.

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Black Friday is an exciting experience for any shopping fanatic but can also be a day filled with tremendous uncertainty. By pre-booking a parking space with YourParkingSpace you can arrive knowing that you saved money on the perfect parking space.

References

NextGen (2020), Blog: The history of Black Friday: The origins, U.K. chaos and Covid-19, Available here