These are Wallet Hub’s 10 best national chain stores for Black Friday shopping
Thanksgiving week means gathering together with family and friends to cook and enjoy a tasty meal.
However, for many American families, the holiday week also means preparing to shop ‘till you drop.
Brief History of Black Friday
The phrase “Black Friday” was coined in the early 60’s, as Philadelphia police departments saw an increase in traffic and consumerism; they said it was “the chaos that resulted when large numbers of suburban tourists came into the city to begin their holiday shopping.”
In the late 80’s, this idea was marketed by retailers into what we know now as “Black Friday,” and is seen as the unofficial start of the Christmas season, or as many see it, the gift-giving season.
And to give gifts, you must first shop for them.
Last year alone, 66.5 million people shopped for gifts in person at retailers, according to WalletHub. This number is actually smaller than the number of people who shopped online, rounding out around 88 million.
With many retailers starting deals the week or weeks before Black Friday and combining the deals with online discounts, consumers can now shop ahead, compare deals and buy online, but many choose to save some items for in-person shopping.
“There are different days for consumers to get the best deals,” said Aimee Dinnin Huff, associate professor of marketing at Oregon State University.
“Major retailers’ deals are typically advertised in advance, including on meta-sites that compile Black Friday promotion information for multiple retailers, and consumers looking for the lowest price and best shipping rates can identify their best option before the sale begins. This helps people budget and plan their shopping activities.”
So, which places are the best to shop at on Black Friday and what places should shoppers avoid to ensure they are getting the most out of their in-person trips?
Well, we’ve got the answers for you.
Here are the 10 best places to shop and get the best deal on Black Friday
According to WalletHub’s “2022 Best Places to Shop on Black Friday” study, here are some of the best places to shop the day after Turkey Day:
JCPenney with an average discount of 64.7%
Belk: 64.2%
Macy’s: 53.0%
Office Depot and OfficeMax: 49.9%
Kohl’s: 44.2%
Lenovo: 40.7%
Target: 32.9%
Big Lots: 32.9%
Academy Sports + Outdoors: 31.1%
The Home Depot: 30.9%
JCPenney is offering the best deals on computers and phones, while Belk has the best deals on apparel, appliances and toys.
Office Depot has the best deals on furniture, while Kohl’s has the best deals on jewelry.
So, what are some places to avoid on Black Friday?
While these retailers still have Black Friday deals going on this year, an abundance of top discounts and deals can be found elsewhere.
According to WalletHub’s study, these are the retailers that have the lowest discounts:
Costco will offer members discounts as high as 16.8% this Black Friday
Best Buy: 22.9%
Amazon: 25.7%
BJ’s: 27.6%
Walmart: 28.4%
What are a few helpful tips for shopping on Black Friday?
If you are planning to brave the crowds to save a few bucks, here are some tips from the experts:
Budget and make a list
“Creating a list of items and having a set budget can help people to start with good intentions,” said Tyra Burton, senior lecturer of marketing at Kennesaw State University.
“The hard part is sticking to the rules you put in place. Do not buy something just because it is on sale.”
Do your research
“I think the only way consumers can make sure they are getting a real Black Friday deal is to compare the price of an item over time, preferably start doing so well before Black Friday. Consumers should plan ahead, list the items they want to purchase and look at price trends. These days it is relatively easy to do so with the internet,” said Omid Kamran Disfani, assistant professor of Marketing at Southern Illinois University.
Don’t be fooled
“Do not just follow the neon lights! There are numerous websites wherein consumers can compare prices, and read comments from knowledgeable people discussing the value of any perceived deal,” said Jared Watson, assistant professor of marketing at New York University.
“Consumers may find it helpful to be leery of sales tactics on products offered, be willing to shop around and try to avoid impulse purchases,” said Robert Hooker, associate professor of marketing & innovation at University of South Florida.
Black Friday retailers near you
Black Friday retailers in Middle Georgia:
JCPenney: 2940 Watson Blvd, Centerville, GA 31028
Belk: 5080 Riverside Dr, Macon, GA 31210
Office Depot and OfficeMax: 2997 Watson Blvd, Warner Robins, GA 31093
Kohl’s: 3091 Manchester Expy, Columbus, GA 31909 and 3050 Watson Blvd, Warner Robins, GA 31093
Target: 2929 Watson Blvd, Warner Robins, GA 31093
Big Lots: 195 Tom Hill Sr Blvd, Macon, GA 31210
Academy Sports + Outdoors: 1689 Eisenhower Pkwy, Macon, GA 31206 and 2907 Watson Blvd, Warner Robins, GA 31093
The Home Depot: 4635 Presidential Pkwy, Macon, GA 31206
Black Friday retailers in Columbus:
JCPenney: 3507 Manchester Expy Ste E, Columbus, GA 31909
Macy’s: 3091 Manchester Expy, Columbus, GA 31909
Office Depot and OfficeMax: 5300 Sidney Simons Blvd, Columbus, GA 31904
Kohl’s: 5550 Whittlesey Blvd, Columbus, GA 31909
Target: 1591 Bradley Park Dr, Columbus, GA 31904
Big Lots: 5300 Sidney Simons Blvd Ste 32, Columbus, GA 31904
Academy Sports + Outdoors: 6700 Whittlesey Blvd, Columbus, GA 31909
The Home Depot: 2891 Sowega Dr, Columbus, GA 31909
Black Friday retailers in Biloxi:
JCPenney: 2600 Beach Blvd, Biloxi, MS 39531
Belk: 2600 Beach Blvd, Biloxi, MS 39531
Office Depot and OfficeMax: 3930 Promenade Pkwy, D’Iberville, MS 39540 and 2414 Pass Rd, Biloxi, MS 39531
Kohl’s: 3901 Promenade Pkwy, D’Iberville, MS 39540
Target: 3867 Promenade Pkwy, D’Iberville, MS 39540
Big Lots: 10541 D’Iberville Blvd B, D’Iberville, MS 39540 and 19 Hardy Court Ctr, Gulfport, MS 39507
Academy Sports + Outdoors: 12075 Lamey Brg Rd, D’Iberville, MS 39540
The Home Depot: 1680 Elizabeth Blvd, Biloxi, MS 39532
