Blog

Black Friday is known to be the busiest shopping day of the year. Retailers cut prices and announce special ‘One Day Only’ Black Friday sales, which have helped the day after Thanksgiving become what it is today.

In years past, shoppers would wait for hours outside the store of their choice until an early opening of 6am, and then run rampant to get the best deals while supplies last. As Black Friday became more popular, the crowds increased so much that not everyone could get the items they want and people would get out of control. As years pass, the stores have started opening earlier and earlier. Many stores this year will open their doors 12am Friday morning, and even 10pm Thursday, to kick off the shopping day.

BLACK FRIDAY + SOCIAL MEDIA

Since social media exploded in popularity the past few years, all of the social media outlets have helped consumers and retailers during the holiday season.

Let’s start with FOURSQUARE:

This year several retailers are offering Foursquare specials for all customers who log into Foursquare and check-in while at their store (examples below) . This year, Foursquare created a Black Friday Survival Guide blog about upcoming check-in offers:

JCPenny: Make your Black Friday shopping count this season. Check in at a JCPenny store on Foursquare and you can generate a $25 donation to the Salvation Army.

Sports Authority: Spend $100 and get a $25 cash card. Twenty lucky people that check in at any Sports Authority nationwide will also be awarded a $500 cash card.

BrookStone: Check in to receive $10 off your purchase of $70 or more.

Aeropostale: Check in and receive 20% off your purchase of $50.

Payless: Take 10% off your entire purchase with your first check in.

Toys “R” Us: Multiple opportunities to save, starting on Thanksgiving and continuing through the holiday season. Check in at a nearby Toys “R” Us to find out more.

Next Topic, FACEBOOK AND TWITTER:

Don’t forget to check in to Facebook and Twitter during your Black Friday festivities. Not only have these 2 social media outlets become wonderful tools for shoppers and retailers to utilize throughout the year, they can be your best friend on Black Friday. Retailers can sell their Black Friday items online, and they have been announcing their Black Friday specials via Facebook and Twitter for weeks! Check the Facebook and Twitter accounts of your favorite stores and start your shopping list now!

While out shopping on Black Friday, Facebook and Twitter can also tell you where the deals are, how long the lines are, and if something is sold out. You can share your shopping photos, photos of lines to enter a store & check out lines. You can also find and share coupons or coupon codes.

On Facebook you will be sharing and viewing the experiences of your community, but on Twitter you can share with EVERYONE! Make sure you # the store you’re at if you want to share on Twitter. Examples:

#Walmart is out of Samsung 32″ TVs, #Lansing MI

I have been in this #Target line for 30min so far. #Paramus NJ

#ToysRUs has AMAZING deals on boardgames! #NewYorkCity

On Twitter I recommend you follow:

@BFads
@blackfriday
@blackfridayinfo
@blackfriday_fm
@blackfridayweb
@blackfriday_org
@blackfridaylist

On Facebook I recommend you ‘like’:

Black Friday by BradDeals
BFads
Black Friday -website
Black Friday -tgibf
Black Friday Countdown
BlackFriday.info
Black Friday Ads

Have you heard of FRIENDS AND FAMILY DISCOUNTS:

If you know someone who works at a retail store, send them a special shout out and ask if they have any upcoming Friends and Family discounts. The reason I mention it: I recently noticed a Facebook friend of mine post a photo on her wall with a special friends and family coupon code to use in their online retail store.

To get these special codes on Facebook, it’s about who you know. On Twitter you could search for ‘family discount’ to see if anyone Tweeted about them.

Do you subscribe to NEWSLETTERS:

Have you noticed a serious increase in Black Friday emails from your favorite stores? (Target, Bed Bath and Beyond, and Best Buy are a few of the culprits I have noticed).

Retailers are utilizing their email list to share Black Friday deals and information with shoppers. This could be jamming up your inbox, so make note of the deals that interest you and delete the rest. The newsletters will decrease once the holiday season is over, but could come in handy during your holiday shopping.

And then there’s CYBER MONDAY:

Have you participated in the new Cyber Monday shopping yet? If you missed out on Black Friday, try Cyber Monday! Cyber Monday started a couple years ago to increase internet sales for companies. Many retailers offer the usual discounts, with the incentive of FREE SHIPPING. Free Shipping has been the highlight of Cyber Monday so far. Now there is no reason to stand in unbearably long lines and push through crowds if you don’t want to.

Black Friday shopping isn’t for everyone – but Cyber Monday will allow you to utilize special deals as well. With that said…..

Happy Thanksgiving.

Happy Black Friday.

And Happy Shopping!