Do you already have a strategy for Black Friday? Before you know it this magical day will have arrived. You need to plan your approach now so you can snag those deals. Or you’ll be listening to everyone else brag and you’ll have nothing to show for it.
Now, this is not all about the FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out). There are items you need (okay, maybe want is a better word here) to buy. And if you’re going to buy them anyway then it makes sense to get a good deal.
So you need a strategy for Black Friday! A plan of attack. This is not an event to attempt freestyle or casually. And don’t forget about Cyber Monday – that is equally important.
Let’s do this.
Wish list
The single most important item you need for your Black Friday strategy (or Cyber Monday) is a list. For many of you, this list is related to gift-giving for the holidays. But this is also the perfect time to consider other big-ticket items and get those great deals.
Non-holiday items
If you’re shopping for yourself or non-holiday related items then your list will have a slightly different format:
- Item to purchase – hopefully, this is fairly obvious (wink)
- Maximum amount you will spend – this is very important. BEFORE you begin investigating all the amazing things you would like to buy, confirm the maximum amount you will spend. And put it in writing!
Holiday items
When you’re shopping for holiday gift-giving then your list will likely be a bit more robust:
- Name of recipient – you might also want to add the nature of your relationship as you may have a number of categories for holiday shopping: family, other relatives, friends, and services (teachers, hairdresser, house cleaner, nannies/babysitters, postal carrier, pet groomer, fitness trainer, massage therapist, etc.)
- Item(s) to purchase – list the preferred item but you also need to have a backup plan (or two)
- Maximum amount you will spend – decide this amount before you begin shopping
- Advertised sale amount – leave this blank for now (unless you’ve already spotted some deals)
- Store with the sale – leave this blank for now (unless you’ve already spotted some deals)
Your budget
Filling out the wish list was fun. But now you need to come back to reality and think about your budget. If you filled out your wish list carefully then you’ve already identified the maximum amount you will spend per item. It’s time to add up that column.
BREATHE! It’s not that bad. The number is probably higher than you would like. That’s okay. It’s only a starting point. Go back through your list and adjust the figures until your overall budget is acceptable.
Phew! That was hard work.
Research
Now you need to get serious about your shopping. You have your list and your budget is set. You might even have some ideas about where you’ll shop. I recommend you begin your hunt online and start searching for the items on your list.
When you find what you’re looking for then fill in the last two columns in your wish list: “Advertised sale amount” and “Store” with the sale. BOOKMARK the store with the deal as you’ll want to come back to that later on.
Once you have sales amounts and stores identified for every item in your wish list then see which stores are common. For each store on your list you want to complete your research by visiting their site and investigating:
- Return policies and fees – do they offer refunds or only exchanges/store credits? Do they charge a restocking fee? How many days are there in the return policy?
- Price matching – is it offered and, if so, what are the conditions?
- Alerts – can you register with the store for notifications regarding sales (through email or social media)?
- Credit card rewards – do they offer any special rewards for particular credit card use
Schedule
This is where your Black Friday strategy takes form. You have a list and you’ve continually monitored the sales and the stores for the items you want. When and where do you go first?
- Doorbuster deals – understand which stores offer even more discounts if you arrive in person. If you can get the same deal online, then don’t go in person.
- Big-ticket items – these generally provide the best deals and almost always require you to show up in person. Think TVs, video game consoles and games, computers/laptops/tablets (although the back-to-school deals might be better), electronic gadgets (smartwatches, fitness trackers, etc.), large appliances (refrigerators, washers/dryers, etc.), and small appliances (blenders, food processors, etc.)
If items on your wish list fall into the above categories then note that store. With your refined (hopefully, smaller) list of stores start plotting their locations on Google Maps. Your schedule should begin with the biggest ticket item on your list to ensure you get that deal. After that, you’ll need to consider traffic congestion and store locations to determine your best route for the day. Try the MapCustomizer tool to see your route visually.
And now you have a strategy for the Black Friday deals!
Black Friday arrives
When Black Friday hits you’ll already know where you’re going and when. But, please, also:
- Dress comfortably in layers – constant temperature changes in and out of stores will wear you down. And so will uncomfortable shoes!
- Bring accomplices – you definitely want to engage others to fan out through each store to collect your items. But it’s best not to bring small children.
- Do NOT wear store colours – if you’re heading to Target, a bright red shirt is not your friend. If you’ll be in Best Buy then a blue shirt won’t work well. You don’t want to be mistaken for a store employee while you’re trying to shop.
- Bring snacks – you don’t want to get hangry while you’re standing in line
- Get a gift receipt – you may not use it, but get one for everything just in case. And be aware, gift receipts are usually only good for store credit, NOT refunds. Refunds are reserved for the actual receipt for the person who made the purchase.
- Skip the cart – depending upon your purchases, skipping the cart will make you more mobile and efficient
- Pack your patience – everyone around you will be there for the same reason. That means long lines, crowds, crazy parking lots, etc.
Other advice
If you really want to be efficient you might also think about:
- Apps – TheBlackFriday app is targeted explicitly toward the seasonal deals (free to download)
- Don’t limit your shopping to Black Friday – the days leading up to Black Friday also offer some great deals and so does Cyber Monday so shop around
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Summary
If you’ve been following along throughout this article then you’re all set with your strategy for Black Friday.
You’ve developed your wish list and clarified your budget. You’ve researched the deals and the stores for the items you want. And you’ve mapped out your route and lined up others to join you on the big day. Maybe you’ve even lined up your wardrobe and snacks!
The crux of the matter is that your Black Friday strategy is all about planning. It doesn’t mean everything will go according to your plan! But you are better prepared and can adjust to surprises more quickly when you know what you want to achieve.
Happy shopping!
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