The single best holiday is approaching (with the exception of your birthday, of course). Black Friday! Black Friday is the single busiest shopping day of the year as it commences the rush of holiday shopping. Stores lure shoppers by slashing prices on their merchandise– with even greater savings for the shoppers who emerge before 8 a.m. Real shoppers know how exciting this is. However, even if it is not as equally as exciting for the rest (the drivers, boyfriends, husbands, and even non-shopping friends who are just there for moral support and the free lunch you promised them), they are still bodies that will be mulling through the stores and parking lots, adding to the confusion and congestion. Therefore, you need to take the necessary steps to be ready for action. This will enable you to take full advantage of the great prices with minimal pain.
1. Have a Game Plan– Know what you are looking for. This isn’t a day to leisurely window shop! You are on a mission to purchase as many gifts as possible without emptying your wallet. Know where the sales that interest you are, what time these particular stores open, which stores offer rain-checks when they run out of product and what is the most strategic order for travel (taking into account traffic patterns and planned stops for food and rest room breaks). Also, locate websites or download apps in advance which can offer last minute store and sale information.
2. If at all possible, leave the men at home! You should travel with a small group of professional, or at least extremely experienced female shoppers. Men tend to become impatient and grumpy. Unless you have a man who fully understands this mission and accepts the terms willingly, you need to leave him home! If there is a sports bar nearby, you may be able to arrange for the men to relax and enjoy themselves, but remain ‘on call’ to carry bags to the car. However, history has proven that this plan rarely works. Your group should be small enough so you can all stay together, but large enough so you can break off into pairs to shop for members within the group.
3. Eat breakfast and stay hydrated. Black Friday shopping can be very overwhelming and most shoppers tend to skip breakfast and just go with a large coffee instead. This won’t get you far. Put something in your stomach and keep some granola bars in your purse for when you start to “crash” in those long waiting lines. Eat carbs the night before you shop, this will help to store long term energy that will maximize your performance throughout the day. Lastly, don’t forget to drink water. Shopping can be exciting but exhausting. Drink water in addition to your favorite coffees to keep from getting dehydrated. Remember, this is a marathon not a sprint. You don’t want to end up being the lead story on the local news.
4. Wear layers. Depending on where you live in the country, it will probably be very cold outside. However, the stores are probably going to be crowded, hot and you are going to want to be able to take your coat off to avoid overheating. Remember, some of the stores (for example in NYC) will have lines which can wrap around the OUTSIDE of the building. Make sure you have a warm coat with decent pockets, gloves, a small scarf and ha – that will fit into the pockets. These will protect all areas of your body where heat tends to escape. And most importantly, wear comfortable shoes. This is not a day to look fashionable– it’s a day to acquire fashion!
5. Leave the wristlets at home. These are perfect for a night out but when are you in a Hunger Games style shopping arena, they are going to be the last thing on your mind. I recommend carrying a tote bag with a long strap that will stay on your shoulder even with your warm coat. The bag should be large enough to hold your wallet, a water bottle and some medium sized purchases (like jewelry, watches, etc.) that you do not want to lose in the depths of your jumbo sized shopping bags.
6. Don’t be afraid to accept defeat. After ten hours of nonstop shopping, don’t be afraid to call it quits. If you still have some steam left after your adventures on Friday, “Small Business Saturday” is a national campaign to help promote and support small business owners. Look for unique gifts for those family members who seem to have everything. And remember, whatever you didn’t find, you can probably purchase online during Cyber Monday, the second largest shopping day of the year. Find everything that remains on your list without leaving your home.
Photo Credits:
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