Guide To Black Friday Shopping

I can’t believe it’s already that time of year again!  Black Friday is just a few days away and, if we’re being honest, it can be an overwhelming experience.  I wanted to share a few of my best Black Friday shopping tips with you, as well as some insider scoop into one of my local, go-to shopping destinations, Potomac Mills.  It’s the perfect one-stop-shop for your holiday shopping and you just can’t beat their deals on designer items.  Remember this highly coveted, designer handbag I found there this summer for 80% off?

What To Wear

To me, what to wear shopping is the most important thing.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve regretted wearing too heavy of a coat, too tight of jeans, or something else super uncomfortable.  My go-to Black Friday shopping outfit will forever be a loose fitting dress – Perfect for easy try-on’s!  And, of course, you’ll want to wear comfortable shoes that you can walk in for hours like a pair of flat booties or loafers.

The Earlier The Better!

Always check the store hours of operation before heading out for your Black Friday shopping as they might be different than the usual times you’re used to.  “The early bird catches the worm” isn’t more true than it is on Black Friday, so I always say get there as early as you can to miss crowds and get first dibs on all of the deals.

Here are the holiday store hours at Potomac Mills:
Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 23rd the mall will open at 6pm to 1am
Black Friday, November 24th, 6am to 10pm

Come Up With A Game Plan

Don’t get caught without a plan this Black Friday, so do your research prep work and come up with a solid game plan to navigate your Black Friday shopping.  Besides of a list of who you’re shopping for, come up with a list of stores that you want to hit for each.  Some of my go-to stores at Potomac Mills include Nordstrom Rack, Coach, Bloomingdale’s The Outlet Store, H&M, J.Crew Factory, The LOFT, and Saks Off Fifth, but you can find the full list of stores here.

If you want to go the extra mile, keep track of each store’s Black Friday specials.  I always visit potomacmills.com before visiting the shopping center to check out all the deals and door busters before I go.  Other elements to include in your “Game Plan” include where to park, when and where you’re going to eat, and where the nearest coffee shop is.

For my fellow Potomac Mills shoppers:
I recommend parking near The Cheesecake Factory or Burlington.  This makes it easy to navigate the entire mall and you’ll be able to easily head back to your car to drop off bags and go back in for more!  It’s important to take a food break during a long shopping day and Potomac Mills offers a variety of food options in their Food Court as well as full service restaurants including Matchbox, The Cheesecake Factory, and Bobby’s Burger Palace.  And, for coffee shops,  there are two Starbucks are located in the mall.  One is located next to the Food Court and the other is located near the Off Broadway Shoe Warehouse entrance.

Other amenities and services to take advantage of at Potomac Mills include the many phone charging stations, shopping carts for rent and a play area for the little ones. And, if all else fails this Black Friday, just pop on by the Cinnabon for a sweet morning treat and a delicious coffee and then visit Guest Services to get the gift that never disappoints: Potomac Mills gift cards!  Be sure to check potomacmills.com for the latest gift card promotion too!

No matter where you’re doing your Black Friday shopping this year, I hope some of these tips help make it a joyous and fun occasion!