The shopping season has begun, and it’s different than ever before.
The COVID-19 pandemic has left many concerned about their shopping plans. Add to that the confirmation from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that shopping at crowded stores is a high-risk activity, and warning that consumers should move to online shopping; It became clear that the usual holiday season sales format would no longer work.
What does that mean for you? No waiting till late November to find out what are the hottest deals on the market. No waiting in long lines at the store. No long hours in the mall, trying to wrap up all your shopping on one single day.
The Black Friday sales are starting earlier than previous years in an attempt to ensure you get your orders on time. The sales will be available online, reducing crowding in-store and maintaining the store’s ability to practice social distancing without increasing wait times. Further, the sales will be lasting longer to spread out demand and consequently, footfall in stores at any given time. So, when we said different than ever before—we meant it.
The big retailers have already gotten onboard and announced what sales will look like for them. Here’s our roundup of some 5 Black Friday sales you need to know about.
Walmart
Instead of the traditional Black Friday sale, Walmart will host 3 different sale events. On offer will be everything from furniture to electronics. The first sale will take place on November 4 at 7pm (ET). The second event will take place on November 11 and the final event will take place on November 25.
Where: In-store and online
Home Depot
Home Depot released its Black Friday deals on October 26, and the sale will begin on November 6, lasting till December 2. The near month-long sale will extend across categories, from power tools to holiday decorations. So, don’t miss out!
Where: In-store and online
Lowe’s
Lowe’s is pushing the bar even more than the other retailers. The company kicked off their Black Friday sales on October 22 and will keep it running till December 2. What’s more? They’ll be rolling out online-only deals of the day, called Lowe’s Cyber Steals. You should definitely keep an eye out for them.
Where: Black Friday sales available in-store and online; Lowe’s Cyber Steals available online
Target
Target is stepping things up a notch with Black Friday pricings all through November. Additionally, the company has decided to extend its price-match guarantee. If prices drop further for something you purchased, you can price-match anything from November 1 to December 24.
Where: In-store and online
Macy’s
Macy’s Black Friday sales will start November 16. They’ll also drop additional deals online on November 24. These will be available till November 28.
Where: In-store and online
That’s not all, however. Amazon too will be hosting another holiday season sale—the AmazonHoliday Dash. Offering more than a million deals throughout the season on Amazon.com/holidaydash, it will include “deep discounts from small businesses and top brands” across categories including toys, home, fashion, and electronics.
So, get ready to shop till you drop (your bank balance more than yourself this year)!