Some readers may remember the excitement of the January sales in their younger years. The January sales really were a big event, with people prepared to queue for hours, some even setting up camp overnight to ensure that they were first to grab the best bargains.
January sales are thought to date back to 1878 as a way to boost the sales of products that usually didn’t make much money at this slow time of the year. January sales had a visible impact on profits to increase and gradually became adopted by businesses around the world.
But are January sales still as relevant today? Most retailers have some kind of sales or special offers all year round, and of course in November we now have Black Friday which is increasingly becoming a sale season rather than a single day. And with the added opportunity of shopping online, have the January sales had their day as a big shopping event?
The answer seems to be that even if the January sales don’t have quite the same impact as they used to, for all the reasons listed above, most retailers will still be running them and there are great bargains to be had. So if you are looking for a major purchase for your home, or missed out on a Christmas present you really wanted, the January sales could be your answer.
Let’s take a quick look and when and where the January sales are to be found, and how to bag the best bargains during the January sales.
Even though they are called the January sales, most actually start on Boxing Day and then run through to mid or late January. Some large store sales traditionally start slightly later – including Harrods, which usually starts in early January – so you may want to double check the website of any retailer you are specifically interested in.
If you are after the best bargains, it can pay to get in quick. Retailers are trying to get rid of leftover unwanted stock and once it’s gone, it’s gone. Whilst you may not really feel like shopping on 26th December, if there is something specific you want, it’s a good idea to give it a go. And January sales run both in-store and online, so you don’t even need to get dressed and out of the house to do so.
But if you fancy a trip to the shops, head for your nearest shopping mall to see an array of sales in real life. And some of the big name stores that are likely to start their sales on Boxing Day are:
As with any sales, you are likely to get the best bargains if you plan ahead. And some retailers slash prices by up to 80% so there are definitely bargains to be had.
Our recent article How to make the most of Black Friday 2024 has some great tips on how to research the product(s) you are interested in so that you can hone down exactly what you are looking for and know what is a good price to pay for it.
So if you need new furniture or white goods for your home, or it’s time to update one or more of your tech devices, that January sales could be a great opportunity to do so.
Planning ahead also helps you to stay focused. If you decide just to wander into a shopping centre or browse online you are likely to get distracted with all of the other deals on offer. You could end up spending money you don’t really have on things you don’t really need, just because they are a bargain : and miss out on the things you actually do need.
Another aspect of planning ahead is to think through your plans for 2025 and see if there is anything that you will definitely need later in the year that you could save money on by getting a great bargain now. This could particularly apply to items that are out of season, such as summer clothing, camping gear, garden furniture etc. Retailers may be desperate to shift old stock to make room for new collections over the coming weeks, so you could really bag a bargain.
If you have children, January sales are also a great opportunity to get things that they will need later this year, for example clothing in bigger sizes, school uniform and other school items. You could even stock up on birthday presents as toy prices are likely to be slashed after Christmas, and you may be able to get something that was on their Christmas list but didn’t make the cut.
And on the topic of Christmas, if you can bear thinking about Christmas 2025 you are likely to be able to pick up great bargains in terms of decorations, lights, cards, wrapping materials and general gift items. You could stock up then stash them away till next November, and have a pleasant surprise when you see how well-organised for Christmas you are!
We hope that this article provides helpful information on how to make the most of the January sales this year. And remember that if you need loans same day to bag the best bargains, Munzee offers same day loans which may be able to help.
And do visit us here again soon for more lifestyle and financial tips from Munzee Loans.
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