Black Friday... now it’s two weeks long

BLACK Friday is starting even earlier this year... in fact, in some stores it has already begun.

And most of the big retailers are planning to extend the sales period for up to two weeks, in a pre-Christmas blitz to entice shoppers away from their rivals online and on the streets.

Deals on offer include up to €400 off laptops, half-price sofas, and Dyson cordless vacuum cleaners down to €249.99 from €419.99.

Competition is so intense that Harvey Norman boss Blaine Callard has said they have a team of spies out checking on what prices their rivals are setting, so they can match them. He said: ‘Often we change prices hourly to match or beat. It’s not unusual for an item’s price to change multiple times in one day.’

He added: ‘The shape of the retail year has radically changed over the past few years, with Black Friday now the busiest period for Harvey Norman – busier than Christmas.’ Even though Black Friday was originally for online shopping and is still six days away, on November 24, the on-street traders are very much involved now and the promotions have already begun.

At Argos Ireland, the two-week Black Friday sales began on Wednesday this week and will run for 14 days.

Currys will kick off the two weeks of sales on Black Friday itself, November 24, at 7am. The electrical giant saw orders placed online every eight seconds last year and TVs selling every 30 minutes and expects sales to be even bigger this year. It estimates there will also be a 15% increase in its customers shopping online.

Retail Excellence Ireland deputy chief Lorraine Higgins said: ‘It’s developed into cyber-week now.’ She added some are waiting for Black Friday to start shopping.

Consumers’ Association of Ireland chief Dermott Jewell hailed the bargains and said: ‘It’s been growing every year and the consumers are the winners in this.’

christian.mccashin@dailymail.ie

‘Often we change prices hourly’