Black Friday sales on big-screen TVs and Instant Pots might get all the love, but they are far from the only deals in town. A wide range of items, from treadmills to makeup palettes to pet supplies, get marked down during the biggest shopping occasion of the year .
“Almost every store in America is hosting a Black Friday event of some kind,” says Michael Bonebright, a consumer analyst with DealNews.com. “Even if you’re shopping for something very specific, you can probably get a great deal on Black Friday.”
Here are some unexpected items you can find on sale this holiday shopping season:
1. Makeup and beauty supplies
Lip gloss, nail polish and eyeshadow kits make great gifts and stocking stuffers. You can find those items, as well as hair styling staples and skin care favorites, on sale during the holiday shopping season.
Last year, beauty retailer Ulta marked down the cult favorite Urban Decay Naked Smokey Eyeshadow palette by more than 50%. Shoppers could also get 50% off Revlon hair dryers and 40% off lotions and scrubs from The Body Shop.
2. Fitness equipment
Black Friday sales on exercise equipment can help you work off those holiday meals. This year, for example, Costco is knocking $300 off the price of the ProForm Premier 600 Treadmill.
If winter sports are your thing, you’re in luck, says Kristen Gall, president at Rakuten Rewards, an ecommerce site.
“Ski gear, like jackets and pants, and equipment, like skis and snowboards, will be sold at deep discounts to make room for 2020 inventory,” Gall says.
3. Pet supplies
“Black Friday brings tons of discounts for all types of pets,” says Sara Skirboll, shopping and trends expert with RetailMeNot.
So deck your four-legged friend out in a new holiday sweater. Stash a few toys under the tree. Or treat your pet to a monthly subscription box .
Retailers, including PetSmart and Petco, and subscription services, such as BarkBox, will all have holiday discounts befitting your favorite furry friend.
A few notable deals include:
- Buy one, get one 50% off on all dry dog food at Petco if you’re a Pals Rewards member.
- Buy one, get one free on all cat treats at Petco for Pals Rewards members.
- $10 off a Kirkland Signature pet bed at Costco.
4. Travel
“ Travel is one of the most overlooked categories for Black Friday,” Skirboll says, adding that flexibility will help you snag the best deals. “[You] can scoop up some stellar vacations as hotels and car rental companies, as well as travel packages, will pump out time-specific sales.”
Expedia will be offering deals on cruises, vacation packages and lodging across its websites, which include Orbitz, Hotwire and Hotels.com, among others. But shoppers will find the best deals by using the Expedia app, says Alexis Tiacoh, public relations manager at Expedia.
Among the deals you’ll find on Expedia’s app this year, according to Tiacoh:
- Black Friday: Flight deals ($100 off where applicable) and a coupon for 75% off hotels.
- Cyber Monday: Flight deals ($200 off where applicable) and a coupon for 95% off hotels.
You need to be prepared to pull the trigger if you spot a great deal since coupons and sales are often in limited supply. But don’t book before examining the details.
“Read the fine print before committing to any vacation as some discounts and offers are contingent on when the trip is scheduled,” Skirboll says.
5. DNA kits
You, too, can take a DNA test and find out if you’re 100% that … nationality. And you can do so for less, thanks to Black Friday sales on home test kits from 23andMe and Ancestry. Both brands slashed the price in half for their DNA test kits during last holiday shopping season.
6. Automobiles
Feeling inspired by those commercials featuring shiny new cars wrapped in giant red bows? Black Friday could be the perfect time to score some new wheels, Bonebright says.
“The holiday lines up with year-end clearance events at dealerships,” he says. “In years past, we’ve seen car dealers offer large trade-in discounts or sizable gift cards of around $1,000 with a new purchase.”
Nissan, for example, offered a $1,000 bonus, plus 0% financing for 5 years on the 2018 Murano during last year’s Black Friday sale. And GMC offered $5,000 cash back on the 2018 Acadia SUV.
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The article 6 Surprising Sales to Shop on Black Friday originally appeared on NerdWallet.
