Experts predict increase in holiday spending, online shopping

Trae Bodge is an accomplished lifestyle journalist, TV presenter, spokesperson and educator specializing in beauty, tech, apps, toys, gift guides and smart shopping.

Once today’s turkey dinner is just a fond memory, the Christmas shopping season launches in earnest starting with Black Friday. Sometimes, yes, but in most cases, not really.

Under the Night Doorbuster that starts 7PM on Thanksgiving there are numerous kitchen ware products. The Black Friday deals that you get on electronics are undoubtedly the best you can expect to get through the year, so focus, plan and shop accordingly.

The Black Friday sales also include up to 40% off on appliances and 25% off on Nike Styles.

Doing so could be a major error though, as if hackers are able to crack one company’s security protection, they could be able to access any number of you other accounts be trying the same password in multiple areas.

“Online you’ve got the right to change your mind and take it back, but that’s not necessarily the case in-store”, Mr Caffell said.

“If Amazon had everything, like everything you need in the world, I would buy everything from there”, said Oscar Viral, a 58-year-old chef in NY.

For brick-and-mortar retailers, the challenge is to draw more shoppers into their stores on what is a chaotic day marred by long lines and crowded parking lots. In reality, numerous stores also said it doesn’t make good business sense as sales continue to be stretched out for the week – and the month.

Troubled Marks & Spencer, which this month said it would begin closing stores in an extensive savings programme aimed at stemming years of declining sales at its Clothing and Homeware division, will also be one to watch, given repeated logistical missteps over the festive period. But know what you’re about to buy.

Most Wal-Mart stores are already open 24 hours. Many gift card merchants sell digital or printable gift cards that are discounted between 2 percent to 30 percent. Take electronic goods; due to the competitive nature of this market and price comparison websites, you can often find promotions on big ticket items like electrical goods all year round.

If you’re game for getting up at the crack of dawn, you could be well-rewarded.

“I thought they were open or something”.

But Shier adds that younger shoppers can also easily fall victim to Black Friday scams, as they are desperate to get their hands on what could be a unique cut-price deal.

PetSmart is closed Thursday but starts Black Friday at 7 a.m. The same goes for restaurants and movie theaters, which grab a huge share of spillover traffic from shoppers looking for a break. Compare lists and help each other out. “The first one being “Super Saturday” – the Saturday before Christmas – for all the people that were procrastinating”.

It’s always important to check the specifics of those online deals, though.

Britons are expected to embark on a record breaking £1.3bn online spree as Black Friday kicks off the biggest shopping weekend of the year.

Any opinions expressed in this column are exclusively those of the author.