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A Guide to Having a Seamless Black Friday Experience By Alexa Fuentes
W
ith the resurgence of inperson shopping after the Covid-19 pandemic, this year’s Black Friday shopping might be overwhelming. A thought-out action plan can be the key to a stressfree shopping trip. Knowing what to get your loved ones is one thing, but knowing when and where to start shopping is another situation. No one shops the same, but here are some questions to help you formulate the best possible Black Friday experience. What Malls and Shopping Centers Are Around Central Florida?
A “one-stop shop” approach to Black Friday can simplify the day and reduce driving around looking for individual stores. One con to this is that you might have to carry around everything you buy until you finish shopping.
Waterford Lakes Town Center includes Super Target, Best Buy, and Office Depot. ■ Orlando Vineland Premium Outlet - includes Lululemon, Adidas and Disney Character Warehouse. ■
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Central Florida Lifestyle | November 2023
Winter Garden Village - includes Target, Havertys and Bealls. ■ Altamonte Mall - includes Macy’s, Dillard’s and JCPenny. ■ Winter Park Village - includes Guitar Center, Ulta and REI. ■ Orlando International Premium Outlets - includes Old Navy Outlet, Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th and Nike Outlet. ■ Lake Nona Landing - includes Sam’s, Walmart and Lowes. ■
Where Do You Find Black Friday Deals?
The best way to find deals is by looking for specific stores’ shopping advertisements. Some come by mail, and others in stores. Finding these ads in advance can help you determine the must-hit stores. Having a physical copy of the deals is also helpful for visual planners as you can lay out your shopping plan. For those who thrive online, blackfriday.com is an excellent source for Black Friday deals each year. They have digital versions of ads from Amazon to Zara. For those wanting to avoid Black Friday altogether, they also have Cyber Monday deals that are just a click away.
When To Do Your Black Friday Shopping?
The time of day that someone goes shopping varies. If you’re an early riser, you might take advantage of the 5 a.m. lineup. Sometimes, if you go in the morning, you can avoid crowds and be some of the first people in the store. If you like to sleep in, Black Friday runs all day, but expect crowds if you go around peak times like midday. Though this tradition has declined in recent years, some stores still open on Thanksgiving evening. Fortunately, there has been a rise in ‘pre-Black Friday’ deals, starting in early November. Pre-Black Friday deals allow shoppers to take advantage of the extended deal to ensure they acquire big-ticketed items like electronics, trending toys or appliances. No matter where or when you complete your shopping, it’s always important to check a store’s hours and deal dates beforehand to ensure you can snag your deal.
