C2.7 Black Friday¶
UK Black Friday: The Crazy Sales
What is Black Friday?
I, Ten-Litre Cat, was quite uninformed and only heard about the Black Friday event relatively recently. I've always been a homebody. Before online shopping was common, I was already browsing catalogues and sending postal orders to strangers to buy things. From a very young age, I was already unboxing various parcels.
Furthermore, I tend to stockpile. If I like something or need something, I buy a lot of it at once and use it slowly over time. Once, I bought over ten pairs of the exact same shoes in the same colour. I've bought over ten pairs of the same style of trousers in different colours, collecting the entire range. The number of socks is uncountable. Of course, they weren't very expensive items; I just liked them at the time and thought I'd wear them gradually, saving shopping time to play games or do other things.
Naturally, because I bought so much and am not particularly organised, I would just toss things aside and forget where I put them. Some of those trousers in different colours are still brand new and unworn to this day... So, this is why, despite studying abroad for so long, I only recently found out what Black Friday is (This paragraph is Ten-Litre Cat's forced explanation :)
Today, Ten-Litre Cat is here to explain :)
What is Black Friday?
Black Friday originated in the United States. Nowadays, many countries around the world participate in this sales event, including the UK, Australia, etc. It's primarily a day for people to start their Christmas shopping early, as many shops are closed during the Christmas holidays. At the same time, retailers want to capitalise on the opportunity to make a significant profit. It's similar to the large pre-Chinese New Year shopping in China, where shops have massive, heavily discounted promotions in advance. However, Black Friday discounts are particularly frenzied, much like China's Double 11 – hugely, hugely cost-effective. You can't buy a bad deal, you just might not be able to buy it fast enough.
Why is it called Black Friday?
This day of crazy discounts is set on the last Friday of November each year. Black Friday in 2025 falls on November 28th. Why the last Friday of November? Because Thanksgiving is on the fourth Thursday of November, and the day after, people start preparing their shopping lists for Christmas and the New Year.
(List of dates for Black Friday from 2025 to 2036 would be inserted here in the final response as per the original text).
So, why 'Black'?
In the past, businesses used red ink to record losses (deficits) and black ink to record profits. Because the revenue on this Friday significantly surpasses usual takings, retailers hope for substantial profits, hence the name Black Friday.
Some students might ask, is Black Friday similar to China's Double 11? Well, Ten-Litre Cat thinks there are significant differences. Firstly, the discount depth on some items during Black Friday can be several times greater than Double 11. Importantly, it's not just everyday brands; luxury goods, cosmetics, electronics, appliance brands, etc., also go on sale. And it's generally not the type of discount where prices are raised first and then lowered (although some retailers still engage in this practice)...
Secondly, Black Friday isn't just about online discounts; physical stores also have crazy sales. For example, Bicester Village offers additional discounts on top of their existing reduced prices. Stores like Currys, Amazon, Argos, Harrods, Selfridges, John Lewis, Debenhams, Boots, etc., participate. Some that rarely have sales will discount, and even new items might be reduced.
Due to these aggressive discounts, Black Friday attracts huge crowds. Some customers even queue up the night before to get their desired products, and fights can break out because many items are limited in quantity and sell out quickly.
As shown in the image below, queues of customers waiting overnight outside shops in previous years on Black Friday; some even start occupying spots on Thursday afternoon:
As shown in the image below, customers are scrambling to make purchases. Look at these expressions – wow, you can really buy :) So, shall we shrug our shoulders and do some shopping with Ten-Litre Cat? Your treat, haha.
For example, Ten-Litre Cat had my eye on a Philips electric toothbrush in a BOOTS store, but it was too expensive and I couldn't bring myself to buy it. The regular price was £139.99. After waiting for a while, another UK sale period came along, like Boxing Day (another sale event on 26th December each year). I forget which specific sale it was, but it was discounted to just over £80, so I bought it then. However, on Black Friday it was only just over £60, and the first few customers could get it for just over £50... Oh, how I felt at that moment...
Shops and department stores across the UK are already prepared for the influx of customers. When the time comes, you can all go shopping. Remember to prepare a list of what you want to buy beforehand and compare prices. Or, if you don't fancy buying anything but just want to tip Ten-Litre Cat, or perhaps tip while dancing with Ten-Litre Cat... after all, buying things is not as fun as dancing.
Ten-Litre Cat Reminders:
Not every retailer participates in Black Friday sales. The hype around Black Friday has encouraged many established brands and those that rarely discount, including brands like Dents, to sometimes run promotions on the day. However, it's not guaranteed that every shop will have discounts. Therefore, decide what you want to buy in advance – everyday items like skincare, health supplements, study tools, etc., often go on sale, so you can stock up.
The Black Friday price isn't always the absolute lowest. Different retailers have different sale items and discount strategies. It's wise to pick your desired items early and monitor their prices. Sometimes, pre-Black Friday sales can be cheaper. It's not always necessary to wait strictly for Black Friday itself. As the saying goes, the early bird catches the worm – weigh up your options.
Online and in-store discounts may differ. Discounts can vary between a brand's online store and its physical locations. Sometimes online offers are much better, but you'll need to be ready to click fast in the early hours.
Consider online shopping. After years of Black Friday experience, most UK customers now opt for online shopping, with fewer queuing in-store. If you can shop online, it's probably best, as physical stores get extremely crowded and hectic. Plus, some online discounts are lower than in-store – just look at those screenshots Ten-Litre Cat posted, really... wow, you can really try.
If shopping online, test your internet speed and have the page ready beforehand. Seriously, you'll find that items sell out within seconds of the clock striking midnight.
Another point for online shopping: Make sure you are on the genuine official website. Some might be phishing sites or sell counterfeit goods.
Always check the terms and conditions before buying. Some items are clearly marked as non-returnable, others have specific return windows. Also check warranty details, free replacement policies, and if buying in-store, ask about tax-free shopping if eligible. For online orders, pay attention to delivery times and shipping costs.
Don't worry if you miss out on Black Friday; there's still Boxing Day, Christmas sales, etc. Of course, Ten-Litre Cat must remind you that some Christmas sales offer even deeper discounts than Black Friday, sometimes on already reduced items. However, stock might be limited for certain sizes or products – once they're gone, they're gone. This is something to consider for items like clothing and jewellery.
Black Friday sale durations vary by store. Some stores only discount on the actual Black Friday. Others have sales for a few days before and after, or even a full week starting on Black Friday. Check the specific dates for each retailer you're interested in.