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Focus Winter 2017
Where did Black Friday come from?
Used to describe a pre-Christmas day of commercial carnage, the term "Black Friday"
originates from Philadelphia, USA, in the early 1950s. In 2010, the online retail giant
Amazon introduced the concept to the UK. Asda, owned by America’s biggest retailer
Walmart, followed suit in 2013. Today the term refers to any day associated with
A retailer who offers extra discounts over the Christmas period
What to expect from Black Friday in 2017
Retailers tend to keep their cards close to their chest before the big day, but we do
have some tips and things to look out for.
It makes sense to go for deals on big-ticket items like phones, laptops, TVs, fridges and washing machines as the discounts will
be sure to make a sizable dent in the price you pay.
Black Friday is also the ideal time to bag a bargain Christmas gift, so search for discounted toys, gaming consoles and gadgets
when you're scanning the deals on offer. This year, look out for deals on the new games consuls
While it's unlikely we'll see discounts on the latest Apple and Samsung products, expect deals on their 2016 products - that
means the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, as well as the Samsung Galaxy Note 7.
Techies should also look out for the Microsoft Surface Pro, the Macbook Pro and the Google Pixel.
How big was last year's Black Friday?
Britons spent a record £5.8 billion over the four days between Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2016 - an increase of 15 per cent
on the previous year, according to VoucherCodes.co.uk and the Centre for Retail Research (CRR). Online retailers took
approximately £2.8 billion of this - up 20 per cent from £2.3 billion in 2015, according to the data.
On Black Friday itself, experts estimate that £1.27 billion was spent in the 24 hour period - up 16 per cent on last year.
However, did you know that Black Friday is still completely trumped by China's Singles Day, the world's biggest online shopping
day of the year? That finished on November 11 with Chinese shoppers spending $17.8bn (£14.2bn) in 24 hours. It seems
UK shoppers still have a way to go to beat that record.
Clare Winter Festival
2
nd
December
Christmas Craft Fair : 10am - 4pm Clare Town Hall
Christmas Lights Switch On : 5pm Clare Market Hill
3
rd
December
Christingle Service : 4pm Clare Parish Church
6
th
- 9
th
December
1pm - 6pm Crib Fest in : Baptist Church
(Sat 10am - 4pm)
7
th
December
Late Night Shopping : Until 8pm
9
th
December
Lick & Promise : (Cover Band) 8pm
The Globe
11
th
December
: Community Carols : 7.30
Baptist Church
16
th
December
: Clare Products and Produce Christmas Market
8.30am - 3.30 pm
For more information please visit :
www-visit-clare.co.uk
Entries £2.50 per person
All welcome
Raffle
All enquiries Peter 01787 277280
Bill 01787 278617
Long Melford Silver Band
Christmas Concert
With Long melford Handbell ringers
Long Melford Village Hall
Wednesday 13
th
December
At 7.30pm
Free admission with a retiring collection
Christmas Quiz Night
Clare Social Club
Saturday 16
th
December
Teams of 3-6
Entry £1 per person
Cash Prizes for 1
st
and 2
nd
places
Raffle
Crib Drive
Saturday 9
th
December
7.30 to 8.00pm