Almost half of UK shoppers to take advantage of Black Friday deals

It looks like retailers’ heavy investment in Black Friday promotions is set to pay off, as almost half of UK shoppers say they will participate in the shopping event, as awareness of the US retail occasion reaches an all-time high in the UK, according to new research from Verdict.

The research has found that 47 percent of shoppers say they intend to buy a Black Friday promotion, and women are leading the charge, with 61 percent of female consumers saying they expect to make a purchase. As a result, Verdict expects Black Friday to boost not only electricals retailers but also clothing and footwear brands, as shoppers hunt for early Christmas presents.

Verdict also found that Black Friday has a strong appeal for younger shoppers with 56 percent of 15-24 year olds saying they plan to spend, with this figure rising to 59 percent for 25-34 year olds. However, mature shoppers over 65 are notably less interested with just 28 percent of shoppers likely to make a purchase.

With the increased interest in the shopping promotion, Verdict expects Black Friday to become a permanent fixture in the UK retail calendar as consumer expectation and demand continues to grow.

Verdict analyst Kate Ormrod said: “With many shoppers still not prepared to pay full price, resulting in high levels of shopping around, providing unbeatable discounts and unique offers will prove crucial on Black Friday 2014 to seize consumer spend.

“Given the challenges faced by many in the UK retail sector this year, Black Friday will also prove useful for many clothing & footwear players left with high levels of winter stock such as knitwear, outwear and accessories, following the unseasonably warm autumn.”