A number of printers are offering special deals today (27 November) only, although some are extending these over the weekend, as they participate in the now global shopping phenomenon.
Business-to-consumer (B2C) printers appear more likely to participate in Black Friday, with companies getting involved this year including Photobox, Truprint, Printed.com and Instantprint.
Others taking part include stationery printer Smythson, and wallpaper printers Surface View and Graham & Brown.
Morecambe, Lancashire-based packaging machinery supplier Promotional Printing Machinery is participating for the first time. Director Andrew Peacock told PrintWeek: “We’ve never taken part in Black Friday before but we do special offers once a month anyway and it falls into that category.
“We sent out a preview last week and we’ve had loads of phone calls from that so we’re hoping to drum up some business.”
Dunstable, Bedfordshire-based personalised product decoration equipment and consumables supplier The Magic Touch, also participating for the first time, is offering free delivery on selected black products this weekend, including black ink, black mugs and black flock.
Managing director Jim Nicol said: “You get caught up in the feeling that if you don’t do something you miss out, so we thought we’d jump on the bandwagon.
“It’s a bit of fun more than anything else, but we didn’t want to miss the opportunity. We’re in a competitive market and anything and everything that you can do to get you in front of people makes total sense.”
Others have taken a slightly different approach. Belper, Derbyshire-based graphic design, web and printing business Graphic Results is offering a range of deals and discounts over the course of the weekend under the ‘Bargain Friday’ promotion.
Director Mike Handley (@graphic_results) tweeted: “Imo #blackfriday wrong as it just makes me think of stock market crashes & bad news. So we are going to #BARGAINFRIDAY.”
Rachel Helen (@rachelhelendsns) of Rachel Helen Designs tweeted back: “I like the sound of that! #bargainfriday sounds much more positive & tempting!”
Black Friday originated in the US as part of the country’s post-Thanksgiving festivities and is regarded there as the beginning of the Christmas shopping season.
Since its arrival on UK shores five years ago, after an Amazon Black Friday event proved successful, it has become the biggest shopping day of the year and sees many major retailers cut stock prices in an aim to drive footfall and sales in the run-up to Christmas.
Internet sales are expected to exceed £1bn today, for the first time in UK history.
