Traditionally, the day after Thanksgiving in the United States is known as Black Friday, the busiest shopping day of the year. Stores promote sales, and shoppers may line up for hours to take advantage of discounts. There are certain steps outdoor enthusiasts can take in order to find a deal on a piece of gear, either for themselves or a loved one.
Research Before Black Friday
Before jumping into the shopping melee on Black Friday, take the time to research what it is you want to buy. This can maximize your time in the store, save you from wandering in the crowd, and avoid having to make last-minute outdoor gift purchases. Some things shoppers can do to research include:
- Make a list of what you are shopping for. Do you need to buy stocking stuffers or make larger purchases? This will help with staying focused when in the stores.
- Looking up the item on the store’s website. Return to the site periodically to see if the price has changed, what the store hours are, etc.
- Visit stores ahead of time to preview where items are located, their prices, and other aspects such as parking availability. Imagine the store crowded with lots of people instead of being empty.
- Sign up for email alerts from the stores, or join their member groups on social networking sites.
Take Advantage of Holiday Sales During Black Friday
Outdoor retailers, just like other stores, will be offering discounts on their products. There may be also interesting finds in the clearance section of the store or their website. The store may even offer special deals for products that are only available online. These can be found on websites for REI and EMS. Discounts could be as little as 10% to 30% or more.
Also, besides keeping on an eye on the national retailers, also be mindful of deals from local outdoor gear stores. Sometimes they will have closeout prices that are better than the national chains, or they may carry different products than what the bigger stores have to offer. One example of this is Wilderness Exchange, which is an outdoor gear store based in Denver, CO that sells marked-down outdoor equipment.
Buy Outdoor Gift Cards on Black Friday
Do you not know what to buy that outdoor gear-head who has everything, and also avoid the whole Black Friday shopping experience entirely? Consider buying gift cards instead. They are thoughtful, practical, allow the user to buy what they want, and can be ordered online. This makes shopping easier, and allows you more time to actually be outside on the trail instead of at the mall.
With a little planning and knowing how to take advantage of discounts, shoppers looking for outdoor gear can make Black Friday a rewarding shopping day.
Bill Sassani - Bill Sassani is an outdoor enthusiast, educator, and writer with over 15 years' experience.
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