That one day is almost here. No, not Christmas. No, not Thanksgiving either – rather, it is something in between. The day in question, folks, is the much anticipated (or much dreaded, depending on who you are!) Black Friday. The one day a year where American shoppers all over the nation converge on every store in town for their holiday shopping, sales, and bargains. What does this mean for Branson? It means you should get your Black Friday game plan together now so you’ll be ready when it hits, because there is some spectacular shopping in Branson to be had!
Pick Your Stores: The first part of drafting your Black Friday plan is to select which stores you plan to shop at in Branson, or in the area surrounding Branson. Be sure you know where your holiday shopping spree stores of choice are located, and what the best routes are to get there – it can often be helpful to take some of Branson’s back routes to get from point A to point B to avoid holiday traffic around town. Also know what time stores open for business! In order to avoid blowing a lot of cash by going completely crazy on Black Friday (“My goodness, I just can’t live without this sparkly pink dog sweater!” or “My mother-in-law would surely love this toaster that plays music”), it is a wise decision to make a list of what and who you need to shop for, so you can visit stores that are relative to your purchases and resist the temptation to go hog wild just because things are on sale. Do you have a teenage girl to shop for? Check out Rue 21 at the Tanger Outlet Mall. Know someone who has a sweet tooth? Stop by the Northwoods Candy Emporium on the Branson Landing. Need that perfect gift for an office Christmas party? You’re sure to find something fun and unique at Dick’s 5 and 10 in Downtown Branson. Is there a farmer in your life? Visit the Tractor Supply Company in Hollister, Missouri, for a great selection of Wrangler clothing, tools and country themed gifts.
Grab Your Coupons: Obviously, stores that participate in Black Friday have a plethora of items on sale and in store specials. But make sure you do your research, because some stores also have coupons available as well. These can be found online or in the paper – so clip away! Or, if you are a paper saver or perhaps just a technology guru, simply pull the coupons up on your smartphone while you are in the checkout line! Be sure to also peruse sale flyers that come in the mail, and to check out store Facebook pages.
Set Your Alarm: If you are a diehard Black Friday shopper, chances are that you wake up around 4am to get to the stores the minute the doors open. To ensure shopping success, set your alarm and get to bed early the night before. And remember to have some breakfast! Preparing a morning meal the night before can save you time in the morning and get you off to a healthy start.
So now that you have your A game in place, you are ready to take advantage of Black Friday shopping in Branson! May the deals be ever in your favor.
