There are some people that look forward to shopping on Black Friday. Some people are so experienced, that the average individual could lose out on a special sale. This article looks at how those talented shoppers get the upper hand on many of us.
Calender Preparation; Clearing your calender is very important. No other appointments or distractions on this special day. The experienced shopper has a baby sitter lined up and even a back up sitter ready to go.
Sale Preparations; The experienced shopper will have a list of store times and that of special sales. They clip out coupons weeks before Black Friday even arrives. They place these coupons in specially marked envelopes. A lot of store information is listed on the outside of the envelope. They receive emails on sales. They communicate with the store clerks early in November. Clerks are very informed about up coming deals.
Personal Preparations; The experienced shopper gets plenty of rest the day before. The gas tank is full. Comfortable clothes and shoes are worn. Dinners are cooked in advance. Reservations are made at a local restaurant to save time, while shopping. The cellphone is fully charged. There is a limit on items that need to be carried while shopping. They know that they will need use of their hands. They often have a friend go with them. This is especially important in dark parking lots. Never walk alone to and from your car if possible.
Finances; Credit cards are paid up months in advance. You never know, when you will need extra cash. Budgeting for Black Friday shopping is critical. You don’t want to over spend. Carrying cash can be a problem. The experienced shopper will try to avoid a lot of change. Larger bills are easier to track.
Up Dated Lists; Keeping a handy updated shopping list is important. If you are Christmas shopping, list the item by the individual you are buying for. The experienced shopper will list more than one gift item by a person. It is a back up plan for gift buying.
Tactics; The Black Friday shopper uses special shopping OPS. They are aggressive, they know what they want. They are quick to pickup things with their eyes. They do not take time to refold clothing items. They take the maximum number of clothes into the dressing rooms. They waste no time trying clothes on. They have a keen eye for red tag items. The experienced shopper uses the slide through and grab quick method. This tactic often beats standing in line. A quick “excuse me” usually does the trick.
Automobile Preparations; The trunk is clean. Baby seats are removed. A bottle of fresh water is available in the cup holder. The vehicle is well maintained for travel. Some experienced shoppers place cardboard boxes in the trunk. They do this to keep items separated.
Black Friday is set for November 25. Are you up for the challenge?