Let’s all be honest, we *loved* getting to spend time with friends and family over this Fall break, but perhaps what excited us the most was the 5 a.m. rush we experienced on the best day of the year: BLACK FRIDAY!! While some of us may not admit it, I am willing to say that it is my favorite part of break, and over the years I have come up with a strategy that has yet to fail my shopping needs. While Black Friday is over for this year (however the sales seem to last throughout the holiday season), I figured I should still share my tips and tricks in the spirit of the holiday season. So, my friends, here are my guidelines for a successful day of holiday shopping :
The Morning Routine
Ladies, you need to be out of the door by 5 a.m. This isn’t the little leagues — your competition (AKA other hungry shoppers) will have been waiting outside all night for stores to open. However, the smart way to play it is to rest before the day of hauling bags around and running to registers. This day is more about stamina, not about who gets where first (although, it is a little about that, hence the 5 a.m. start). Keep your clothes comfy and your walking shoes handy.
The Destination
This is all dependant on what type of shopping you are doing, but I know of one place that is the answer for all shopping needs: KOP! THe King of Prussia Mall is the second largest mall in the country, stores ranging from basic department to Upper-East-Side-like fashion. If you’ve never been here before, Black Friday is the time to make the trip, you’ll never experience a real shopping experience like this one. Between loud holiday music, coffee stands every two store lengths and ridiculous amounts of excited people, this place is sure to keep you powered up and motivated to get everything done.
The Shopping List
This may be the most important element of Black Friday shopping, it is so easy to side track yourself with early doorbusters and crazy sales, but getting what you came in for has to be a top priority. There is no worse shopping fail than that of spending tons of money on things you don’t need, when there are other things you needed to buy — so don’t let yourself down! Come armed with a shopping list and do your best to stick to it.
The Top Stores
Finally, here is my ranking of top sale stores to hit on your day of shopping :
For Clothes :
JCP, Kohls, Macys, Old Navy, PRIMARK (a must), Nordstrom Rack, Express
For Shoes :
L.L. Bean, Macy’s, Steve Madden, UGG, Nordstrom Rack, Journey’s
For Electronics :
BEST BUY (get there EARLY), Walmart, Amazon (online), GameStop
Of course, almost every store will have deals going on, but these are the ones with considerable doorbusters that should all be stopped at!
Yes, Black Friday is over for this year — but the big day is stressful every single year. Make sure to come prepared when the biggest shopping holiday of the year rolls around in 2020!