Shoppers in the UK are expected to spend 11% more this year than in 2018 on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, according to a PWC report. This will set a new record of £8.57bn for these two days with the average shopper spending £224. However, a Which? report found that only one in 20 deals are genuine with previous prices having been consistently higher than the Black Friday price.
It’s worth noting that savvy investors can benefit from year-round discounts and not just Black Friday deals. Many companies offer deals to their shareholders all year round, and frequently shareholders don’t even know about them. Yet, these deductions, benefits or ‘perks’ can turn any shopping day into a Black Friday experience.
Stocks with benefits
Some examples: If you own just one share of Bloomsbury Publishing, then you get 35% off its books. Similarly, the clothing giant, N Brown, which includes the men’s fashion chain, Jacamo, and the plus-size chain, Simply Be, offers its shareholders 20% off its products. And its shares sell are currently priced at £1.21. If that’s too expensive, then the Moss Bros shares sell at £0.20 and offer all its shareholders 20% off its formal menswear. For ladies who love their luxury, Mulberry offers a 20% discount to shareholders who own at least 500 shares.
As Lucinda Gregory, Investment Research and Guidance Manager at the Share Centre, said, ‘Everyone loves a bargain but with increased doubt over the value of Black Friday deals, investors should take a look at the discounts already in front of them.’ Once you’ve done the research, a stock shouldn’t be bought simply because of the company discount. Nonetheless, there are companies offering discounts without significant investment required.
Photo by Allie Smith on Unsplash
