Black Friday for Christmas savings

SIX WEEKS today it will be Christmas Day. While the sun continues to brighten up our days on the Southern Costa Blanca, a time tested retail formula that has proved its worth in North American and UK markets, has made its way to Spain: Black Friday.

Next Friday you could save a fortune on your Christmas gifts as many shops and services in Torrevieja will celebrate the second Black Friday with many establishments staying open until 11.30pm with even more not closing for lunch. That, coupled with entertainment and performances in the town centre, make it a fun day to pick up a bargain and put your pocket money to good use.Black Friday is an American tradition that has permeated slowly into many countries, including Spain. For retailers this represents the starting signal for the Christmas season and they look at Black Friday as a way to anticipate a couple of days of discounts to attract customers. While many of us may think of after Christmas sales, or in Spain's case, after Reyes (Three Kings) sales, many consumers still do not know that Black Friday exists in Spain and so, this year, a new campaign from the Department of Commerce and Torrevieja Small and Medium Business Association, APYMECO, will bring you a day of special offers from hundreds of local businesses with more details in next week's RTN.More than 60 shops, restaurants and services have already signed up, with most offering major discounts on everything they sell. Many of the shops are staying open over lunch time with all of them extending their hours into the night and closing around 11.30pm. During the evening, it's hoped that different performance groups, dancers, singers, bands, musicians and kids activities will all be taking place, to add to the atmosphere of the event, just as they did last year. This new marketing initiative for the start of the Christmas campaign will coincide with the festivities in honour of the Immaculate Conception and the start of the holidays at the beginning of December.Some of those participating include: Jin-Kang, Estética China, Profiness, Estanco, Komeykalla, Calzamoda, Top Móvil Torrevieja, Peluquería Moktar, Guardería Parvulitos, Optica Mar, Optica Sabater, PC Box, Sumofi, Best House, Baby Centre Pekes, Movistar, La Venta Del Duende, Entre Tres, Bernard, Prontomoda, L´Espurna, La Petanca, Viajes Thadertur, Bombom, Menudos, Isigue, Peluquería Pelukids, Decoración Manuela Morales, Imagenfoto, La Golosa, Albamur, Peluqueria Soho, Amigüitos, Instalaccion Aire Acondicionado Ballester, Mayoral and Foto Imagen.