Our research shows that the majority of Black Friday shoppers are planning to shop both online and in-store. With so many great deals, so many ways to save, and hundreds of stores to choose from, planning can get pretty overwhelming. As Flipp’s Chief Deals Officer, my role is to make your life easier and help you find the best deals — that’s why I’m sharing my top tips that will make you a Black Friday Insider, whether you’re shopping in-store, online, or both!
Tips to Shopping In-Store
Tip #1 – Plan ahead
This is where the Flipp app comes in as your #1 tool for savings and deals! The Flipp app brings you thousands of weekly ads and deals to help you plan your shopping trip ahead of time. Ads also provide you with details on whether your desired purchase is available exclusively in-store, or if it’s also available online. If you want to get even more granular, try the new “Ways to Shop” filter on Flipp to search for deals that align with your shopping preferences; online, in-store, or both.
Tip #2 – Shop early
Black Friday deals are already here, and shoppers all over North America are finding amazing deals on their top picks. Be sure to regularly check your Flipp app. The bottom line is, don’t wait until November 26th to start crossing items off of your list.
Tip #3 – Create your Watch List
This is by far my favorite feature on Flipp because it helps you find in-store and online deals for the items you care about. All you have to do is add items to your Watch List and Flipp will track and continuously update all the available deals at different stores. Better yet, if you tap the little bell icon, Flipp will let you know when new deals drop, so you’ll never miss a sale.
Tip #4 – Shop off-peak hours
There’s no need to shop in chaos anymore. With deals being spread out across the entire season, I recommend that you shop off-peak hours to avoid large crowds and line-ups. If you have the flexibility, plan your trips during quieter weekday mornings.
Tips to Shopping Online
Tip #1 – Create online accounts ahead of time
Online shopping is easy and effortless, but most stores will require you to create an account to check out, or alternatively, you can check out as a visitor — which can take just as long. When you’re competing for a deal, the faster you check out, the better. If you know you’ll be shopping at specific online stores, create all your accounts ahead of sales dates to save time once those deals drop. You might only be saving a minute or two, but it could be the difference between getting the deal you want or being snubbed at the virtual check-out counter.
Tip #2 – Don’t ignore Pre-Black Friday deals
Just because a deal is not labeled as a “Black Friday” deal, doesn’t mean that it’s not worth it. The holiday shopping season has already begun, so don’t be surprised if stores release typical “doorbuster” items well before Black Friday.
Tip #3 – Sign up for emails
Brands love rewarding their loyal customers with promo codes and exclusive offers, so if you’ve been filtering marketing emails straight to your spam folder, now is the time to bring them front and center. Sign up for your favorite stores’ emails, and check them regularly. There might just be some sweet deals waiting in your inbox right now.
Tip #4 – Follow brands on social media
Don’t underestimate the power of social media. Most brands will announce sales on their social accounts first, so make sure you’re following your favorite stores to stay in the loop. Plus, many brands will have contests around the holiday season, giving their followers a chance to win some freebies, so make sure you’re following Flipp on Instagram and Facebook (wink)!
I wish you the best of luck and jaw-dropping deals on your favorite items this Black Friday season. Share these tips with your friends and family to make sure you’re spreading the love for savings!
