Black Friday on track to beat last year's sales

Black Friday sales are on track to beat the bumper shopping bonanzas of the last two years, latest data suggests.

Barclaycard, which processes about £1 in every £3 spent using cards, said by 17:00 GMT, there were 23% more transactions than that point in 2020.

And the firm said there was a 2.4% rise in the volume of payments compared with the same period on Black Friday 2019.

Analysts PwC predict £8.7bn will be spent on Friday, twice the amount spent last year, during lockdown.

It is also higher than the £7.8bn spent before the pandemic in 2019.

The increase comes despite warnings to expect less generous discounts and some shortages.

Black Friday, which began in the US, sees retailers slash prices to entice shoppers ahead of the Christmas period.

It is officially on Friday 26 November but retailers' campaigns span the whole month and started earlier than ever this year, with some in October.

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Rob Cameron, chief executive of Barclaycard Payments, said Black Friday was off to a "strong start" despite the country's economic challenges.

"As we reach the end of the Black Friday, it is great to see that the trend we have been seeing throughout the day has continued, and retailers will be happy that today's trading figures have surpassed those secured in 2019.

"They will be hoping for this spending pattern to continue, not only in the last few hours of trading, and into Cyber Monday, but also in the run up to the festive season."

Metapack, a firm that connects major retailers with parcel delivery services, said data indicated that the biggest shipping days would take place on Monday and Tuesday, the same as last year.

PwC predicts about 60% of adults in the UK will make purchases, spending an average of £280 each.

Campaigners are blocking multiple entrances using bamboo structures, lock-ons, and banners

But people are not only venturing out for shopping trips. On Friday, protestors gathered at Amazon buildings in the UK, US and Europe, with unions, equality and environmental groups saying Black Friday "epitomises an obsession with over-consumption".

Meanwhile, Extinction Rebellion has targeted Amazon depots in the UK, blocking entrances and access roads.

Linda Ellett, head of consumer markets at analysts KPMG, said deals were likely to be worse this year as retailers struggled with global supply issues linked to the pandemic, and shortages of HGV drivers and warehouse staff.

Black Friday is the first big test for supply chains in the all important "golden quarter" for retailers.

Shoppers have been buying early, worried they won't get the presents they want if they leave it until the last minute this year.

Black Friday started as a one-day event but is now almost a month long blizzard of promotions.

But expect fewer deals overall this time around amid all the problems over stock availability and labour shortages. Many retailers can ill afford to slash prices when their costs are soaring.

Retailers also want to smooth out demand to try to reduce the pressure on distribution centres where goods are picked, packed and despatched over the big Black Friday weekend.

A lot of businesses have been removing next day delivery options to help them cope.

Some businesses, especially smaller independents, will shun this event altogether.

It may have a lost a bit of its lustre, but Black Friday is still a massive shopping event. And it will probably be the most well organised retailers with scale and the biggest clout over suppliers who will cope the best.

There are concerns some retailers will not be able to meet demand on the day, leading to long waits for orders to be processed and delivered.

But analysts say most brands have spent months preparing for the sale and will have enough stock - although shoppers will not always get their first choice of product.

John Lewis told the BBC: "We've worked closely with our suppliers and we are confident we've got an extensive range of deals across a wide range of categories that represent great value for our customers."

AO World, which has hired 500 extra drivers ahead of the day, said: "Like all electrical retailers, we are currently unable to get all the stock we need in categories like gaming to meet customer demand largely because of global microchip shortages.

"We are working closely with our partners so that our customers continue to get the exceptional service and range they rely on."

Metapack thinks most retailers will avoid a "perfect storm" but a few could be unlucky.

"We've already seen retailers reach out and suggest customers buy early for Christmas which should ease the pressure," said senior vice president Tom Forbes.

Some big brands such as M&S and Next have shunned Black Friday this year, with M&S again saying its focus was on "offering great value throughout the whole season".

Many independent shops have also opted-out as they cannot afford to offer deep discounts in the vital Christmas shopping period.

Mike Cherry, chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses, urged shoppers to support smaller local businesses who are "pinning their hopes to a bumper festive season" after last year's restrictions.

He said: "Rather than reaching for the same old brands - where deals might not be all they seem in any case - shop bespoke, receive one-to-one personal service and give some new restaurants, cafes and pubs a try."

Shoppers have also been warned to check whether offers are all they seem.

An investigation by consumer rights group Which? found that 92% of Black Friday deals in 2020 were the same price or cheaper in the six months before the event.

'I'm not playing that game'

The Potions Cauldron gift shop in York is one of the independent retailers not taking part in Black Friday.

Manager Phil Pinder thinks it's an American invention driven by retailers like Amazon who want to "squeeze everyone else out".

"I read a story saying that some of the electrical retailers are going to run out of stock by Christmas from doing Black Friday deals.

"I'm not playing that game... it seems illogical."

The shop, which sells magical themed drinks, sweets and gifts, has been doing well this year but it is struggling with product shortages due to supply chain issues.

Phil says it is missing about £50,000 of stock it hoped to sell before Christmas which is "a real headache".

His message to shoppers this festive season is buy early: "If you want to get a specific present, go out and get it now. There are probably not going to be many of those last minute sales this Christmas because I don't think the retailers will have the stock."