Shoppers in Hull can expect Black Friday 2014 deals at Asda, Tesco and Sainsbury's supermarkets as well as high street stores including Argos, Curry's and Boots. Alice Roberts reports.
SUPERMARKET chains are expecting Black Friday to be more popular than Boxing Day.
Shoppers in Hull are being told to expect Christmas bargains galore as stores slash their prices this Friday (November 28).
Large branches of Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury's in and around the city will be offering discounts on popular gifts and electrical goods for a limited time.
Black Friday originated in America, where it is traditionally seen as the beginning of the Christmas shopping season, but its rising popularity here means it is fast becoming one of the biggest shopping days of the year for UK stores.
US-owned Asda heavily promoted the event for the first time last year, when there were reports at some stores of fighting between customers chasing bargains. The retailer adds to the anticipation by hiding discounted products beneath black sheets until the moment the sale begins.
Jo Marshall, store manager at Asda Kingswood, said: "We do expect it to be very busy here and it's an event that has become very popular."
The store is remaining tight-lipped about most of the products that will be on offer in stores from 8am on Friday, but has revealed a quad-bike will be on sale at a discount of nearly 50 per cent.
Ayaz Alam, Asda's senior director of general merchandise at Asda, said: "Last year we were the first major retailer to bring Black Friday to the UK.
"This year, we've stepped it up a gear again and by working closely with Walmart – the godfather of Black Friday – we'll be bringing an even bigger and better sale to the UK than ever before."
Tesco stores, including the Tesco Extra at St Stephen's Shopping Centre, will be offering discounts of up to 70 per cent on more than 200 electrical and entertainment products, such as HD-ready TVs, games consoles and coffee machines.
Rob Hattrell, Tesco general merchandise director, said he expected Black Friday to be more popular than its traditional Boxing Day sale.
"Black Friday now marks the real start of Christmas shopping and Tesco is recognising this with its Black Friday sale in-store and online," he said.
Tesco says it will offer £15m of customer savings in total, which the frenzy beginning online and in-store from 12.01am on Friday.
Sainsbury's in Hessle will also be taking part in Black Friday this year.
A manager at the store confirmed it was the first time the retailer had offered big discounts for the major retail event.
He said: "We've not done a Black Friday sale before so it's a totally new entity for us. There are going to be offers on around 16 lines of products including TVs and household products."
Roger Burnley, director of retail and operations at Sainsbury's said: "This is a great way to give our customers some fantastic deals on products before Christmas.
"It's a competitive market, so it felt right to be part of the mix this year and kick off the busiest trading time of the year with a popular sales event."
Sainsbury's says bargains will include a saving of £130 on a Sony Audio Tank, down from £199.99 to £69.99; a saving of £150 on a Blaupunkt 40-inch LED TV, down from £299.99 to £149.99; and a saving of £160 on a Dyson DC24 Animal Vacuum, reduced from £319.99 to £159.99.
Beyond the supermarkets, retailers including Argos, Curry's, PC World, Boots, Superdrug and Halfords will be offering discounts.
Lee Appleton, manager at Prospect Shopping Centre, says he expects to see big crowds on Friday.
He said: "Although shops are becoming steadily busier, the deals on offer this week will mean it will be the official start of the shopping season.
"Last year there were retailers in the centre who saw a 20 per cent increase in sales on this day, even though they didn't have any particular Black Friday offers.
"There definitely seems to be a knock-on effect for nearby retailers and it's getting bigger every year."
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