From Black Friday newbies to consumers who count down the days until the annual sales extravaganza, a rush of people looking to bag bargains this year are expected to spend a record total of £9.148bn.
The latest Shopping for Christmas report from the VoucherCodes discounts site forecasts retailers’ best Black Friday Weekend yet, with expected sales surpassing the pre-pandemic record of £8.566bn, set in 2019, by 6.8%.
And this year’s total is tipped to be 15.1% more than that in 2020, “when only 29% of consumers made a purchase” over the sales weekend, according to the report. By contrast, polling by VoucherCodes found that 40% of respondents were planning to splash the cash this year.
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There are plenty of deals to be had, with almost every online retailer now making at least a token effort to jump on the sales bandwagon. Although Black Friday 2021 officially falls on 26 November, the discounts begin much earlier.
While the likes of Net-a-Porter and Selfridges are keeping their powder dry, John Lewis started dropping prices earlier this week, and Amazon has had rolling offers since the beginning of November before launching its main 'Black Friday Week' sale today.
Here are some of the online retailers that have already unveiled Black Friday discounts.
General
Amazon: something for everyone, including lowest ever prices on Amazon's own smart tech products
AO.com: includes price guarantees to match better prices from other retailers
John Lewis: discounts across beauty, tech, fashion and loads more online
Very: low prices on AirPods, smartphones, vacuum cleaners and beauty products
Tech
Dell: 35% off some of the world's most popular laptops and PC accessories
Richer Sounds: big savings on TVs, sound bars, speakers, home cinema and all things audio
Samsung: TVs, phones, laptops and kitchen tech all included in early Black Friday sale
Fashion
Adidas: up to 50% off both fashion and sportswear, including trainers, T-shirts and bags
ASOS: savings on a range of brands and items: use code SALEWINS
La Redoute: half-price Black Friday sale has started on fashion for men, women and children
Luisaviamora: 40% off selected full-priced items from designer brands
Jewellery
Missoma: get 25% off everything just by signing up to the newsletter
Monica Vinader: 25% off everything now, with half-price flash sales promised
Tada & Toy: early access savings on earrings, bracelets and necklaces
Health & Beauty
GHD: there's up to 20% off everything on GHD's online store, including straghteners, brushes and dryers
Look Fantastic: we've seen discounts of 50% on some products already
Space NK: save 35% on cosmetics and fragrances, with gift ideas under £30
Although there are many great discounts to be had, it’s important to watch out for so-called Black Friday deals that may not be genuine bargains.
We’ve taken a look through the early runners and riders in the Black Friday derby to pick out ten early offers that definitely are worth considering.
Apple AirPods headphones: £199.99 at John Lewis
If you’re going to splash out on Apple AirPods, the Pro edition still reigns supreme. John Lewis is among the retailers who have knocked £40 off the RRP, and the price looks unlikely to drop any further next week.
The creme de la creme of kitchen gadgets, the KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer is a staple of chefs and baking fans. This premium model is available in a range of colours, but the best pricing is for the black version on Amazon.
Samsung’s innovative Z Flip 3 doesn't come cheap, but this surprise discount means that it’s now far more affordable. And if you buy direct from Samsung, you can also claim up to £550 off by trading in your old mobile.
Rated by experts as the very best laptop around, the MacBook Air is a powerful machine, with a better-than-average battery life and a stunning 4K screen. Both John Lewis and Amazon have this model at the same price, but it may be worth waiting until next week to see if Black Friday brings another price drop.
The LG OLED48C1 is a five-star 4K Smart TV with an Ultra HD screen and near-perfect clarity of sound, plus extra features including AI Brightness and Scene Detection to optimise the picture according to the content being watched and the light in the surrounding room. And it is currently down to its lowest ever price.
Sage Barista Pro coffee machine: £599 at John Lewis
Caffeine fans in search of the perfect espresso may want to check out this cafe-style coffee maker from Sage. With integrated streamer, grinder and easy-to-operate digital interface,the Barista Pro is available in either silver or black.
This massive Samsung fridge freezer combines size with style, with a brushed metal finish and 634-litre capacity. It includes all of the smart features you’d expect from a modern appliance, including plumbed-in water and ice dispensers and No Frost technology.
Nectar memory foam mattress: from £411.95 at Nectar
Lots of retailers compete to offer the best mattress discounts on Black Friday, but Nectar’s 45% sale really stands out. The brand is consistently ranked high on lists of best mattresses, and has pledged to be a 100% climate neutral manufacturer. As an extra safety net, Nectar offers a market-leading 365-night trial and lifetime warranty.
When it comes to automated vacuum cleaners, iRobot is among the most innovative brands out there. This i7 model promises to “learn, map, and adapt to each room”, to help make housework easier than ever.
Over the past few years of Black Fridays, all eyes have been on Nintendo Switch deals. At £259, this latest deal from Argos is among the best yet, and some tempting bundle offers may hit the virtual shelves over the next week or so, so keep watching for further discounts.
If you’re new to the world of drones, then the DJI FPV is a great place to start. It’s relatively easy – and lots of fun – to fly, and comes with goggles that let you experience a real-time onboard video of your flight. Although some reviews are critical of the 10-minute flight time.
Black Friday has become a fantastic time to get kitchen deals. The Foodi MAX from Ninja is nine cooking gadgets in one, including functions for pressure cooking, air frying, slow cooking, steaming, roasting, sautéing, grilling, yoghurt making and dehydrating.
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