How To: Survive Black Friday

Monday, November 18, 2013

Last week, I was approached by Destiny USA to share my Black Friday tips. Throughout college I worked at Express and after working a few Black Fridays, I feel like I have some knowledge to share with anyone venturing out into the craziness next week!


1. Go to the mall and pick out what you want to buy prior to Black Friday
     If you are shopping on Black Friday just to shop, with no real list of what you want, go check out the store either the weekend before or the Monday before. This way, you can figure out where the items you want are as well as figure out what size you need. It always amazed me how long the fitting room line was on Black Friday. I would NEVER wait in that line just to try on clothes. Go to the mall earlier to figure out exactly what you want to buy and save yourself from waiting in two different lines at each store. Rarely will stores rearrange prior to Black Friday, so if you locate all the main things you want prior to Black Friday they should still be in the same spot.



2. If you must try clothes on, go in layers.
    If you cannot get to the mall before Black Friday, go in layers. This way, you can try on clothes without needing an actual fitting room. While this won't work if you're buying bottoms, it will work for tops. Wear a simple cami or a v-neck and try of all your sweaters and shirts over it.


3. Bring a friend
    Black Friday will be insanely more fun for you if you go shopping with a family member or friend. Not only will you have more fun, but you will be more productive. One person can go straight to waiting in line, while the other person grabs all their items. You can switch out so that there is one person always in line while the other person shops. Also, if you are in a crazy store, split up. Go with a friend who knows your size and what you like to wear. This way, if they find something they think you will like they can grab it for you.


4. Go shopping at an odd time
     The busiest times at the mall is right when the mall opens. If you are just going to shop, and aren't out there fighting for one item, you can really have a great time if you hold off on going shopping for a little while. Most people either go right when the stores open, or first thing in the morning. When I worked at Express, we opened at midnight. We were crazy busy from 12-4 AM and then it picked up again around 7:30 AM. Anybody who came in from 4-7:30 had less people to "fight" with and hardly any lines to wait in. Not only that, but once the craziness settles down, stores can restock items and put unwanted items from the fitting rooms back on the shelves.



5. Sometimes the best sale isn't on Black Friday
    When I worked at Express, the Black Friday promotion kept reappearing up until the Holidays. We had 50% off on Black Friday, and then again on another random weekend two weeks later. Sometimes all the sweaters would be marked to 40% off but then customers could use a coupon with it. You cannot use any coupons on Black Friday so sometimes you will get a better price if you wait to shop!

I hope some of these tips will help some of you going out to shop this year! I personally have not decided if I am going shopping yet. I know that some stores are starting their sales the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, so I may just go to the mall then and call it good! If you want to do your own post on how to survive Black Friday, please do! Make sure to link up to my post and Destiny USA's post on surviving Black Friday!



(A shopping post wouldn't be complete without some Blair Waldorf quotes!)

What other tips do you have? Share them in the comments below!

I would love it if you would follow me on GFC or BlogLovin'!

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27 thoughts

  1. great Blair quotes!!
    really helpful tips :)

    www.magdalennes.blogspot.com

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  2. Great tips and so true sometimes the sale are better after black Friday I do cyber Monday in the comfort of my home.
    http://tifi11.blogspot.com

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  3. Great Black Friday tips!

    Lauren,
    http://www.atouchofsoutherngrace.com/

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  4. I have a post planned just like this for next week. I also worked at Express and Aerie through college and these are such good suggestions!

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  5. Great tips! I actually skip Black Friday altogether as I find the stuff I need isn't really on sale, like you said in tip #5. I just stay in the safety of my home away from crazy holiday shoppers, and go for Cyber Monday deals instead. That said, I do need a few tech items so I may have to start scoping the stores (tip #1) :]

    xo Deborah
    Coffee, Prose, and Pretty Clothes

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  6. I actually scored some $15 dress shirts for my husband at Express last Black Friday, that was a good deal for me! I'm never very serious about Black Friday shopping, but I definitely agree that it's not worth it to wait in line to try something on--it's not the time for leisurely shopping. If you want to try clothes on, go another day!

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  7. I did black Friday ONCE. NEVER AGAIN!

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  8. Love her. Great post.

    Thanks for doing this giveaway for us. Love it.

    Hope you had a great weekend.
    Sofia

    stylishlyinlove.blogspot.com

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  9. Black Friday shopping can be both fun and stressful at the same time!

    xo, Yi-chia
    Always Maylee

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  10. Black Friday is SCARY. Those people are nuts. But I love all the Blair Waldorf in this post. She's pretty much the best. Don't you miss GG?

    Nikki
    thefashionablewife.com

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  11. Absolutely love this! And just in time for Black Friday ;)
    xo TJ

    http://www.hislittlelady.com

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  12. These are great tips (and fun screencaps!) and it's so true about the sales not being necessarily the best on Black Friday (at least for Express). This weekend I bought a scarf there that was 40% off, plus I had a coupon so it ended up being cheaper than it will be on Black Friday at 50% off. If you shop smart you can avoid so much craziness!

    On the Daily Express

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  13. Confession: I've never gone black Friday shopping. I don't think I could handle the crowds although I do hate that I am missing out on some awesome deals.
    -Alex
    http://www.monstermisa.blogspot.com/

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  14. I agree with all of these. I worked at the mall for 5 years. It always blew my mind when people didn't come in with a plan. It's too overwhelming to just shop to shop.
    -Ash
    www.thestylizedwannabe.com

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  15. Such great tips! I love Black Friday!

    agirlandhersparkles.blogspot.com

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  16. Ha! I love a good Blair Waldorf quote. Great post. For the first time in 9 years I'll be shopping Black Friday. My tip, break up the day with lunch and a glass of wine (or two).

    www.brasshoney.blogspot.com

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  17. Thank you for sharing! Can't wait for the sales! Great tips!
    http://www.fabuloustorture.blogspot.com

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  18. Thanks for all the great tips! I just wish we have Black Friday's where I live, too. :)

    Jenn
    The Pink Lemonade Girl

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  19. We don't have a black Friday here in Australia, but they are good tips for shopping any sale! :) I think going with a list in mind is helpful so you don't buy the wrong things.

    Away From The Blue

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  20. These are great tips! I agree that the Black Friday sales are not always the cheapest. When I worked retail, the prices were really slashed the most after Christmas.

    -Sharon
    The Tiny Heart

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  21. The tips are great! Black Friday sounds like incredible fun! Have a happy thanksgiving!
    xoxo
    http://berrybloomxo.blogspot.co.uk

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  23. Blair quotes, love it!:D
    We don´t have Black Friday here in Europe.

    xxMonica
    sunstreetmonidesign.blogspot.com

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