Black Friday 2018: When is it and who has the best UK deals and offers so far?
The crisp autumn air has returned and, with it, Black Friday. The annual sales will soon be in full swing, but many of our favourite retailers - like Amazon and John Lewis - have already started to release early deals.
Though we will have to wait until the clock strikes midnight on November 22 to see everyone's Black Friday offering, there are already a number of noteworthy discounts available and we've compiled the best for you, below.
This is our ultimate guide to Black Friday; the history of the sales day, advice from business experts, and tips on how to shop and save smart:
When is Black Friday 2018?
Black Friday takes place this week - the day after the U.S celebration of Thanksgiving on November 23, followed by Cyber Monday on November 26.
For those looking to save money on big ticket items ahead of Christmas, then the sales weekend is usually worth hanging on for because of the range of tech, toys, clothes, gifts and appliances that are discounted.
Despite some cynicism around the nature of the 'discounts', experts insist there are still deals to be had as the retail sector races to the bottom - but only if you do your research.
Expect the usual big name retailers to get involved as they try to out-shop leader of the pack, Amazon.
The best early Black Friday deals
With some retailers price-matching their competitors this year, you don't even have to worry about missing out on a better deal later in the week. Simply check your chosen retailer's terms and conditions and enjoy The Telegraph's top picks from current Black Friday deals, below:
Google Home Smart Speaker
Was £129, now £79 from John Lewis
If you want a smart-speaker, this is the one to buy. Last month The Telegraph rated this model as the best of the bunch, reasoning: 'The key to understanding what Google Home is all about is in its appearance. That big white block at the top is the processing brain; and the smaller turquoise slice at the bottom is the speaker. Google Home is a smart assistant first, a speaker second.'
As well as searching the web to answer your questions, the voice-activated device can connect with compatible smart home products (like your thermostat or TV) to control them, plays music on command and can set alarms, start timers and add items to your shopping list.
Fire TV Stick 4K and Echo Dot
Was £99.98, now £49.98 from Amazon
The third generation Echo Dot is usually £49.99, so this is a great deal. It is a hands-free, voice-controlled device which allows you to connect to personal assistant Alexa in order do a myriad of tasks: to play music, make calls, ask questions, check your calendar, weather, traffic and sports scores, manage to-do and shopping lists, control compatible smart home devices, and more.
In this bundle deal the Dot comes with the Fire TV streaming stick, which lets you plug in and play thousands of programmes from streaming channels, including its own Prime Video.
Fire HD 8 Kids Edition Tablet
Was £129.99, now £89.99 from Amazon
The Amazon Fire 8 tablet is aimed at kids, giving them access to thousands of apps, books, films, games and more - great for both education and fun. As a specially designed children's tablet, you can set stringent parental controls, such as bedtime curfews and controls on screen time and content.
Garmin vivosmart 4 Fitness Activity Tracker
Was £119.99, now £74.99 from John Lewis
This activity tracker monitors your heart rate as well as providing stress tracking and a relaxation breathing timer, while the wrist-based Pulse Ox4 sensor lets you check your blood oxygen saturation whenever you want. Safe for use in either the swimming pool or the shower, it lasts up to seven days without needing to be charge and can send notifications to your phone via the accompanying app.
KitchenAid 150 Artisan 4.8L Stand Mixer, Black Caviar
Was £479, now £299 from John Lewis
Kitchenaid mixers are the best in the business - in fact, it is said to have got its name in 1918 when prototype models were given to the wives of factory executives in Ohio, who declared it the best "kitchen aid" they'd ever had.
This black 4.8L model is reduced by £180 today; the mixer, known for over the past 100 years for its reliable quality, has 10 speed settings and includes a wire whip whisk, dough hook and flat beater (the latter two of which are both dishwasher-safe).
Ring Video Doorbell Pro
Was £229, now £139 from Amazon
Want to monitor your front door from anywhere? This doorbell works with selected Alexa devices to allow you to do just that, as well as check in on your home at any time with the device's Live View on-demand video and audio.
It can launch real-time video with your voice; lets you see, hear and speak to visitors from your phone, tablet and PC; and sends alerts when motion is detected or when visitors press the doorbell. This offer knocks almost 40 per cent off the Doorbell so is worth snapping up.
Tassimo Vivy Coffee Machine by Bosch
Was £79, now £29 from John Lewis
This compact coffee machine is reduced by over 60 per cent, which makes it the ideal offer if you or a family member need a jolt of caffeine to get up in the morning: all you need to do is flick a switch to get a coffee shop-worthy cup of joe.
It has a removable 0.7L water tank and has a LED light user interface which tells you about the machine's status: standby, automatic mode, manual mode, refill water tank or if the machine needs to be descaled (which can be done automatically using the machine's cleaning and descaling programme).
Canon EOS M50 Mirrorless Camera Vlogger Kit
Was £749.99, Now £609.99 (with £140 Cashback from Canon)
There are few cameras on the market as powerful and portable as Canon's 4K EOS M50, making it a great sidekick to anyone interested in telling visual stories in rich colour and detail. The compact digital camera is packed with innovative technologies like cinematic 4K and 5-axis image stabilisation which helped secure the M50 as a kit favourite for Youtubers and budding filmmakers alike.
The set is completed by a Joby GorillaPod and Rode VideoMic GO Microphone, making the kits inclusion in Canon's 'CashBlack' promotion the best value for any budding vlogger.
Xbox One S 1TB with Minecraft Starter Pack
Was £249.00, Now £179.00 from eBay
eBay have knocked a massive £70 off their Xbox One S Minecraft bundle, giving you the chance to be part of a worldwide phenomenon for less than ever before.
This offer features the Xbox One S console with 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray™, 4K video streaming, wireless controller and High Dynamic Range, plus a full-game download of Minecraft and its accompanying Starter pack. Even if the game isn't your cup of tea, the console itself is rarely this affordable and has over 1,300 other games (including 200 console exclusives) available for your enjoyment.
Marc Jacobs Decadence Perfume Eau de Parfum 50ml
Was £68, Now £34 from Superdrug
Marc Jacobs boast an impressive portfolio of fragrances, but few have the near-unanimous appeal of Decadence. The perfume - which is now half price at Superdrug - offers a lush blend of champagne, orange blossom and saffron.
Whether you're eighteen or eighty, it's unique profile (combining everything from bergamot to vanilla) makes Decadence a sophisticated scent for all ages.
LG OLED65C8PLA 65" Smart 4K Ultra HD HDR OLED TV
Was £4,499, Now £2,499 from eBay
This incredible 65-inch TV from LG is not only a phenomenal example of vision technology's current limits, but is available for a massive 44% off for a limited time. As well as top of the line picture quality (think perfect blacks and brilliant contrast), the TV is voice-controlled with ThinQ AI technology.
The OLED panel is also far different from most others; each pixel is individually controlled to make colours more vibrant and true to life while the TV's high frame rate makes fast-moving action is super smooth. LG have quite literally thought of everything; even the sound is funneled out towards those facing the screen, so you have no need for a sound bar.
Kilchoman Machir Bay Whisky, 70 cl
Was £47.95, Now £35.99 from Amazon
It is quite rare to find a celebrated single malt scotch for 25% off, but Amazon have kicked off their Black Friday drinks deals by doing so with one of the best.
Machir Bay is quite simply a crowd-pleaser; the young whisky is perfectly peaty on the nose yet well-rounded with mouthfuls of vanilla, smoky butterscotch, and rich fruit. If you're looking for something unique to bring to Christmas this year, Kilchoman has you covered.
All the products mentioned in this article are selected and reviewed independently by our journalists. The Telegraph makes money by adding affiliate links to some of the products.
The growth of Black Friday
Police officers in Philadelphia, USA, first used the term "Black Friday" in the 1950s, when large crowds of tourists and shoppers came to the city the day after Thanksgiving, creating chaos, traffic and shoplifting opportunities.
The name "Black Friday" soon grew throughout the U.S and today, it commonly marks the start of the Christmas season, where shops compete to offer the best deals.
The concept was first brought over to the UK in 2010, when online retailer Amazon, promoted a range of discounts and deals to consumers - and Britain was hooked.
Supermarket Asda, owned by the American retailer Walmart, later held its own Black Friday sale in 2013, which quickly turned into mayhem, making national headlines as customers physically fought for flat-screen televisions.
Since then, the sales day has grown year on year, although much of the shopping is now done online thanks largely to the rise of the smartphone.
Andy Mulcahy, Strategy and Insight Director at IMRG, the UK's industry association for online retail, said the event has impacted the way we shop in Britain: "Consumers are now delaying purchases because of Black Friday."
How big was Black Friday in 2017 (and what did we buy)?
The hype around Black Friday continues each year and shows no sign of abating. According to data from Barclaycard, spending was up by seven per cent in 2017 compared to the previous year. IMRG also reported that the amount spent on UK online retail sites increased by 11.7 per cent to £1.39bn, year on year.
Unsurprisingly, it's big-ticket tech products that people tend to snap up over the Black Friday weekend - including top of the range televisions, laptops and household appliances.
Which? discovered the most popular product reviews on its website across the sales weekend last year included the Samsung UE40MU6120 40-inch TV, HP 15-BS series laptop, Samsung HW-M360 soundbar, Dyson V8 absolute cordless vacuum and LG OLED55B7V 55-inch TV.
In 2017, search engine Bing also found that searches for the best 4K TV deals were high while Amazon, revealed the Echo Dot, Fire TV Stick with Alexa voice remote, Nintendo Switch, Bosch PSB 1800 Cordless Combi Drill and Lego Ninjago Manta Ray Bomber were some of their best-selling products.
What deals and savings were on offer last year?
IMRG found the voice assistants, Amazon Echo and Google Home, were particularly popular in the sales because prices were slashed by up to 50 per cent in an attempt to get more people to install them in their homes.
In terms of gadgets, Amazon offered deals including price cuts to the Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Surface Pro and Fitbit Blaze, while John Lewis offered discounts on the Google Home speaker, Amazon Fire 7 tablet and MacBook Air.
Currys PC World reduced the price of the Delonghi coffee machine, KitchenAid mixer and Xbox One X.
Tesco had a range of deals on Marcy exercise equipment and gift experiences such as a helicopter flight for two while ASOS offered 20 per cent off everything on their site across the Black Friday weekend.
Next also held their own sale across the Black Friday weekend last year with up to 70 per cent off a range of items in store and online until Cyber Monday.
In terms of travel deals, Europarc offered up to 50 per cent off holidays at 50 of their most popular parcs.
Do all UK retailers hold Black Friday sales?
No. Despite a number of UK retailers participating in the 2017 Black Friday sales, many chose not to participate, including Ikea, Asda, Marks and Spencer, Homebase and Primark.
Selfridges sort-of joined the shopping event by holding its own weekend promotion called "Christmas Comes Early" instead.
What did we learn from Black Friday 2017?
Black Friday is not a one day event
The increasing competition between UK retailers has meant sales are no longer confined to just one day, as many shops began offering deals in the days leading up to Black Friday, which saw it dubbed 'Black Fiveday'.
Some online retailers even started their sales as early as the start of November, continuing across the Black Friday weekend, and concluding on Cyber Monday.
According to research by Springboard, the volume of online transactions in the week before Black Friday was up 11.3 per cent as retailers cut prices early.
Patrick O'Brien, a retail analyst at Globaldata, said that this has led to less excitement on the day: “There’s been a lack of urgency about the day itself. People have been making those purchases for at least a week and some of the best promotions have already been around for a while.”
Don Williams, retail partner at KPMG, linked the length of sales to consumer demand as "customers don't want to be involved in the rush of sales".
If we shoppers don't want to be rushed, then the stores don't either. Spreading the event across several days cuts the pressure on websites and the huge flurry of online deliveries can be spread more evenly.
Online sales (and click and collect) triumphed
Despite an overall increase in Black Friday spending from the previous year, high streets and shopping centres were emptier because - let's face it - it's easier and quicker to browse online and then buy.
Research from Springboard found high street footfall was down 4.2 per cent from the previous year and including retail parks and shopping centres, 3.6 per cent fewer shoppers went out to look for bargains on Black Friday.
Down by 0.9 per cent, Saturday footfall was slightly higher as shoppers went to collect their online purchases from stores.
Mr Mulcahy, at IMPG, said one in three online orders for multi-channel retailers use a click and collect service, suggesting that online sales are likely to remain prominent across this year's Black Friday weekend.
Technology and electrical deals dominate the sales
Discounted gadgets appeared to be prominent in the Black Friday sales last year, with a range of retailers competing to offer the best deals on laptops, televisions, game consoles and voice assistants.
Retail analyst Bryan Roberts of TCC Global, suggested Black Friday is a "huge deal" for electrical retailers such as Currys PC World, which face tough competition from online retailer Amazon.
Currys said orders for over-ear headphones were up 223 per cent, games consoles were up 158 per cent and large TVs were up 44 per cent compared with the previous year.
E-commerce director Stuart Ramage at Dixons Carphone, said last year that TVs had been "flying off the shelves" as shoppers "made the most of our stores being open early".
Britons love late-night shopping
With a trend towards less shopping on high streets, it appears more Britons are in favour of online shopping, particularly in the evenings.
Argos said its website attracted two million visitors in the four hours after its Black Friday deals were launched at 9pm on Thursday November 23.
Consumer Rights
Across the Black Friday weekend, your consumer rights will remain in place and you may need to use them if you receive faulty goods, discover an online scam or simply wish to return your purchase.
If you have changed your mind about a product, most British shops have a returns limit of 28 days from the purchase date while online purchases can be returned within 14 days of receiving an item to receive a full refund.
However, some retailers have different policies regarding returns of sale items, so think carefully when purchasing items in the Black Friday sales.
For more advice on Black Friday purchases, read our full guide on consumer rights.
Scams and online hacking
Unfortunately, the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales can make the perfect opportunity for online hackers to obtain your personal and sensitive data.
If you're planning to browse the web on Black Friday, stick to trusted websites, which have a padlock symbol in front of the URL and secure banking services.
Mr Mulcahy, at IMRG, said: "Scams tend to happen through phishing emails and scammers can try to imitate retailers' email addresses."
Mr Mulcahy also recommends signing up to your preferred retailers' newsletters before the sales and to always avoid clicking links in any suspicious emails you receive.
It's also worth creating strong passwords to all your online accounts and avoiding suspicious emails to prevent your purchase details being stolen.
For more help on staying protected when online shopping, read our guide to online hacking.
Can you really find good deals on Black Friday?
With the increasing competition between UK retailers and more sales being launched in the days leading up to the shopping event, trying to find the best deals can be difficult.
Mr Mulcahy at IMRG insists that "you can absolutely get a deal on Black Friday" with good research in advance, particularly as "more and more retailers switch on their campaigns early".
If you're planning to shop online during the sales, setting up your accounts beforehand can give you more browsing time and a faster checkout process.
It is important to understand what you're hoping to achieve from the sales event. Think about what you're looking to purchase and if you can make any savings on the day.
Research the retailers in advance to see what deals they will be offering and compare prices with others to find the lowest costs.
However, it is also important to remember that retailers will offer discounts throughout the year and prices across the Black Friday weekend might not necessarily be the cheapest.
Alex Neill, Managing Director of Home Products and Services at Which?, said: “Our research shows that although Black Friday can offer some great discounts, not all offers are as good as they seem.
“It’s easy to get swept along by the hype and excitement on the day, so we recommend doing some preparation and research to help make sure you really are getting a good deal when shopping in the sales.”
Which? also discovered that 60 per cent of products they investigated were available for the same price or cheaper at other times of the year, proving research in advance and on the sales day is key to saving cash.
To find out how to get the best deals, read our full guide of shopping tips.
What is Cyber Monday?
Cyber Monday marks the continuation of sales following Thanksgiving and Black Friday, with deals and offers promoted exclusively online. This year, it falls on November 26.
The name was adopted in 2005, by Ellen Davis, senior vice president of the National Retail Federation in the US, when she found an increase in online sales on the Monday after the Thanksgiving celebrations.
A range of retailers got involved with Cyber Monday last year including Amazon, Tesco, Debenhams, House of Fraser and Argos.
According to a study by Sale Cycle, last year more sales were made on Cyber Monday than Black Friday in the USA, with a total of $6.59bn spent. However in the UK, Black Friday sales were 78 per cent higher than Cyber Monday.
