Another Black Friday is just around the corner. It’s that time of the year when an average Brit dedicates a significant portion of their monthly funds to deals they have been researching months prior.
Generous deals and discounts make the last Friday of November a day every Brit awaits with anticipation – here’s where they like to spend their money once the big day comes.
Online Shopping
In 2025, online shopping reigns supreme, and this has been going on for quite a few years. Brits primarily like to scavenge for Black Friday deals online, as this form of shopping comes with many benefits.
For starters, online shopping is easy and accessible. An average working person doesn’t have to spend little energy they have left after a long day on shopping malls, although many people still prefer to shop this way. With online shopping, all that’s needed is a mobile/laptop and stable WiFi.
Moreover, most online shopping in the UK is done via mobile phones. Phones have become an integral part of an average Brit’s life. They give you access to different activities, such as online casino games. With a mobile phone and the right app, one can play in the best EU casinos and enjoy the most popular games, such as slots.
Major retailers have long caught up on this trend of online shopping, which is why most sellers have online stores. Still, when it comes to Black Friday, the majority of Brits stick to stores that have started the tradition in the United Kingdom, which includes stores like Amazon and Argos. Other largely popular retailers among Britain’s consumers include John Lewis and Currys.
But that’s not where the benefits of online shopping end. Apart from convenience, online shopping gives you the ability to easily compare prices and read product reviews, allowing you to make the best deal.
Speaking of the best deal, it’s worth mentioning that online stores usually have lower prices. Online retailers don’t have to deal with a lot of overhead costs, allowing them to provide bigger discounts to their shoppers.
Finally, online shoppers get to access a greater variety of products. There’s always a chance the product or gadget you are interested in will be sold out in stores, but there’s a much smaller chance of that happening online.
In-person Shopping
Crowded stores full of cheerful people are still the preferred option for many people. While many of London’s fashion brands keep up with fast-changing trends by establishing online stores, most of them still flourish in real life.
In-person shopping is mostly popular in large and populous areas, such as London and Manchester. In London, shoppers mostly choose physical locations like London’s Oxford and Regent Street, as well as big shopping centers, like Manchester’s Trafford Centre.
London, in particular, is an excellent destination for Black Friday shopping. When it comes to high street fashion, not many places can beat Bond Street. Likewise, not many department stores can come on top of Selfridges and Harrods.
Harrods, along with Harvey Nichols, features luxurious brands, which are particularly popular among London’s affluent people. However, luxurious brands are less likely to offer significant deals, as the crowds they cater for aren’t in need of them.
In-person shopping still hasn’t taken a backseat to online shopping. The benefits of buying in person this Black Friday mostly boil down to the feelings of immediate gratification. Unlike online shopping, in-person shopping lets you take your goods with you right away, giving you that dopamine hit you need.
Another advantage of in-person shopping is personalised customer service, as store clerks can give you recommendations and help you spot the best deals. Likewise, while in the store, you can perform a physical inspection of a product, which eliminates those pesky returns. Keep in mind this is especially important for clothes and shoes, as well as expensive items, like electronics.
Finally, in-person shopping eliminates shipping costs. One online purchase probably won’t make a big dent in your budget; the same can’t be said for multiple small ones.
That being said, you have to take one thing into account – if you are trying to save money, in-person shopping might not be the right decision. People buying in physical stores are more prone to making impulse buys. Online shopping lets you visit the online store as many times during the day as you need, so you don’t feel the pressure of buying on the spot.
Since you have to invest time and energy into physical stores and possibly go through a long commute time, you’ll be more inclined to buy something right away. Couple that with the possible pressure from sales staff, and you can make a purchase you’ll regret until the next Black Friday.
The Bottom Line
Black Friday is a one-time annual event that has shoppers worldwide running to their favourite stores. For Brits, this looks like a mixture of online and in-person shopping, as both are popular among the UK’s residents.
Which one an average Brit will choose depends on a multitude of factors, with their availability being the main one. Those who can dedicate some time to in-person shopping like to go to physical stores, while those with jam-packed schedules opt for online shopping. Either way, every shopper gets the best deals of the year, which is something to look forward to.
Author Profile
- CEO - ClickDo™ & SeekaHost™ | Started as an SEO Consultant and helped over 400 UK business owners grow their business with online marketing and Google advertising. More details about Fernando Raymond are available at www.fernandoraymond.com.
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