WHAT’S THE STORY?
TODAY is Black Friday, a day of deals beyond imagination, and it is taking Scotland by storm. For one day prices of clothes, phones, make-up and even food are slashed dramatically. Countless numbers of people flock to shopping centres and retail parks with the goal of getting their claws into as many bargains as possible. It seems that on Black Friday, many shoppers resemble a horde of zombies searching for their next meal rather than civilised human beings shopping for presents.
HOW DID IT START?
ORIGINALLY started to boost sales after Thanksgiving holidays in the US, it has now turned into a worldwide phenomenon. Black Friday is known as the start of the Christmas season. It is a day that aims to encourage families to spend more money despite many Americans splashing out hundreds on their Thanksgiving meals.
HOW DID IT ARRIVE IN SCOTLAND?
THIS is a question many people are asking themselves as Black Friday threatens to cause riots among deal-grabbing consumers rushing to the shelves. It appears the phenomenon of Black Friday has surfaced in Scotland overnight as it has sneakily made its way on to our annual calendars. Maybe the start of Black Friday tradition was an inevitable inheritance from across the pond.
WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT?
IN previous years, Black Friday has resulted in chaos. Fights have broken out on shop floors, women have pulled each other’s hair over products and shop assistants have hidden in stockrooms in fear of the aggressive bargain hunters. In a case in Aberdeen, a woman was hit over the head by a box of hair straighteners as stock ran low and the fight for the last one commenced. Glasgow is set to be Scotland’s biggest spender this Black Friday, and with more and more businesses joining in on the shopping trend, mind-blowing deals are sure to be on the increase.
WHERE ARE THE BEST DEALS?
LAST year, Amazon spread their Black Friday deals across 10 days and offered thousands of bargains for consumers. Tesco followed suit and held their Black Friday dealsfor 11 days offering many of price cuts on electricals, gadgets, toys, homeware and more. Boots, Currys, PC World, Argos and John Lewis are rumoured to be slashing prices at an unbelievable rate and if you are brave enough to face the public army, they will be worth a visit ... if you dare.
HOW CAN YOU AVOID THE CHAOS?
THE solution is simple; it is time to block your windows, close your doors and turn on The Walking Dead. In this scenario you can watch the reality of the Black Friday chaos on TV and see how Rick Grimes would handle a horde of aggressive and hungry zombies overrunning once peaceful shopping centres. If, however, you do decide to face the marauding mums trying to buy all their Christmas shopping in one day, make sure you take protection. Flak jackets and reinforced helmets should do the trick.
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