Black Friday 2023: Expert tips to shop like pro — and find the best deals in Canada
Get ready to ace your Black Friday game with these expert shopping tips.
While Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals can be enticing and help Canadians save money ahead of the holiday season, it can be easy to get overwhelmed by a sea of options and make some costly shopping mistakes.
That's why we put together this handy guide to help you make the most of this sale shopping season. Keep reading for everything you need to know about Black Friday 2023, and how to shop it like a pro.
What is Black Friday and Cyber Monday?
Historically, Black Friday has been marked on the Friday after American Thanksgiving, and is one of the busiest shopping days of the year — especially in the US where many have the day off of work.
Before the days of online shopping, stores would often open at midnight, offering some of their best deals of the year all night and into the following day. Now, Black Friday has evolved to now be longer in duration, often beginning early in November.
Cyber Monday takes place on the Monday following Black Friday, and historically offered shoppers a slew of online-only deals. Now, much of the overall shopping throughout the sale period happens online, no matter the date.
When is Black Friday 2023?
The official date for Black Friday 2023 is Friday, Nov. 24. Many retailers have already begun offering deals throughout the month of November, and some event span the week after as well.
How can I shop like a pro this Black Friday?
To help ensure that you're really getting the best deals when it comes time to shop, we reached out to financial expert, Jessica Moorhouse. Ahead, find her three key tips to take advantage of sales this Black Friday.
Plan ahead
Similar to when you go to the grocery store without a list and overwhelmingly pack your cart, Moorhouse notes that Black Friday shopping is no different.
“Believe me, it's very easy to get caught in the trap. For many years, I didn’t have a strong game plan and one year I bought an InstantPot that I used once and then gifted to a friend because I felt like it was a good deal and then realized ‘I didn’t even need that!’”
Instead of making impulse purchases, Moorhouse suggests spending some time making a game plan ahead of the sales to ensure you are shopping for what you actually need. You may want to get started days or weeks in advance, curating a list of items, along with their pre-Black Friday price points.
This will allow you to assess if the day-of discount is really a deal, or if the price has been artificially inflated to be marked down.
Shop around
Once you have your game plan of the products you're looking for, one extra step is to look around to which retailers are selling this item.
For instance, Moorhouse notes that kitchen appliances like stand mixers could be found at department stores, as well as kitchen-specific stores. Online shopping makes it easier than ever to compare deals, so take advantage of shopping around once the deals begin to ensure you are getting the best price for the items you're after.
Get more for your money
When it comes to major sale events, Moorhouse claims that a lot of people forget about the tools or strategies you can use to get “more bang for your buck.”
Sure, you can take advantage of discounts from retailers, but you can also shop strategically to earn extras from loyalty programs. For instance, with AIR MILES, shopping through the airmilesshops portal allows you to double up, earning both your respective credit card points for the purchase, as well as earning points that can be used later for things like travel or groceries. That way, you’re not just getting a deal now, but you’re stretching your dollars further down the line.
What are the best Black Friday deals in Canada?
Article: Until Nov. 27, customers can shop over 600 items at up to 30 per cent off.
Ecobee: Until Nov. 29, the Smart Doorbell Camera is on sale for $199.99 ($20 off; originally $219.99) and the Smart Thermostat Premium is on sale for $289.99 ($40 off; originally $329.99).
Endy: Until Nov. 25, all Endy mattress purchases will receive an exclusive Essential Sleep Set valued at $570 CAD.
Fable: Until Nov. 27, enjoy a site wide discount of 15 per cent off for all orders up to $350, 20 per cent off when you spend over $350, and 30 per cent off when you spend over $650. Plus, enjoy free shipping on all orders for the duration of the sale.
FORM Swim Goggles: From Nov. 21-28, the smart swim goggles will be on sale for $249 CAD (regular price: $339 CAD).
Indigo: From Nov. 20 - 26, Indigo is offering customers up to 30 per cent off, with plum PLUS members receiving an additional 10 per cent discount on a wide range of gifts.
Kilne: Save 10 per cent site-wide on kitchen essentials.
KIP. Sleepwear: From Nov. 20 - 27 take 30 per cent off luxurious sleepwear, with all styles available for free monograming.
Knix: From Nov. 20 - 26, Knix is offering 25 per cent off site wide, with additional doorcrasher deals from $29.
Mejuri: From Nov. 20 - 28, enjoy 20 per cent off all orders over $150.
Monos: From Nov. 24 - 26, save up to 40 per cent using code BLACKFRIDAY.
Olaeda: From Nov. 24 - 27, enjoy 25 per cent off site-wide when you spend $100 or more.
&OR Collective: Until Nov. 27, shop the entire site and save up to 30 per cent.
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