BY KAROLINA DOMBAXI, STAFF WRITER
Black Friday is right around the corner, coming up on Friday, Nov. 26. It is a popular time of year when thousands of stores host sales and deals for their consumers. Often, Black Friday deals start well in advance of the actual day. Black Friday is also known as one of the busiest shopping days in the U.S.
The Monday after Thanksgiving (Nov. 29 this year) is usually known as Cyber Monday. That is when online stores, like Amazon, host their deals and sales. This period of time for sales and deals is an ideal time to buy presents for the upcoming holidays. Even if people do not celebrate Christmas this is a good time to buy birthday gifts as well.
Some popular stores having sales include retailers like Walmart, Amazon, Target and Best Buy. To make sure shoppers do not miss a Black Friday deal it is a good idea for them to set some notifications or to check the stores’ websites.
Some great stores that have gifts for kids are Target, Pottery Barn Kids and Big Lots. These stores sell everything from arts & crafts to dolls and polaroids. The Nintendo Switch is also popular among kids as well as Lego sets. A popular place for adults and kids is Barnes & Noble. Barnes & Noble will be having a Black Friday sale too. For members there will be 50% off best selling books and signed editions as well. Barnes & Noble
Do not forget to check out other places on the internet like Etsy. Etsy is an online marketplace where people can sell, buy and make custom, unique and handmade gifts. Users might find it to be similar to Ebay, just without the bidding. People can create their own shops and sell their own products. Etsy has everything from jewelry and accessories to clothing, shoes, home decor and crafts. People can get customized gifts for their families and loved ones. All sales on Etsy go towards the creators.
Secret Santa is another popular way to give gifts. To participate with a group of friends write everyone’s names down on scrap pieces of paper. Then, crumple them up so the names are not seen and put them into a hat or bowl. Pass it around so that everyone can pick out a name and surprise their person with a gift.
Online retail stores are also having Black Friday sales. Stores that sell athletic apparel such as GymShark, Dick’s Sporting Good, Sports Locker and Fabletics have sales.
According to U.S. News, Amazon announced this year’s most popular gifts to give. The first one to come up are the Ugg Fluff Yeah slides. They are comfortable and come in a variety of colors. It is plush sheepskin on a platform. These slides have been worn by celebrities and are a must have for the season.
Another popular gift is a pressure cooker. The Instant Pot 10-in-1 Pressure Cooker can be purchased from Amazon. The 10 functions include slow cooking, making rice, making yogurt and sauteing.
The third popular gift has been made popular by the app Tik Tok. It is the TeeTurtle Reversibile Octopus plushie. The original is a pink octopus with a happy face that can be reversed into a blue octopus with a sad face. Tik Tok creators can be seen using this plushie to express their feelings and it also serves as a great decoration for a bed or car. This is sure to be a busy Black Friday with a lot of shopping happening online due to the pandemic.
