GEAR LOVE: EARLY BLACK FRIDAY - SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY SHOPPING AID

Dawning of new traditions, Thanksgiving week 2020. Taken by PKSenagore November 2020.

 
TRADITIONAL BLACK FRIDAY SHOPPING NO LONGER EXISTS. Rising very early in the morning to get to a mall or downtown retail area for special store openings, to secure amazing money-saving deals on prized items, on the day after the USA Thanksgiving holiday is no longer necessary or perhaps even possible.  We can use laptops and mobile devices to purchase rrice-slashed gifts for others (and ourselves) days and now even weeks in advance.
 
However, where do we start when it comes to identifying what our beloved athletes might wish to receive? Is it possible to surprise these family members and friends with apparel/ gear they may not have known about or realized could improve their sporting lives?
 
Runnersworld.com recently publish a listicle of 28 “Best Running Products” that had been tested and approved by staff.  
 
The problem I’ve had with such list-articles in the past is that the featured items are often sold out online by the time I read the piece, and I’m not confident I can choose an appropriate substitute.  
 
So, this article is being passed on to readers ASAP in hopes it will spur discussions with intended giftees about wish lists and serve as a guide for Black Friday as well as Small Business Saturday, promoted the weekend day after the USA’s Thanksgiving and the first Saturday in December in the United Kingdom. 
 
The RW article’s links to enable purchase of featured products take readers to the companies and of course to amazon.com., but some products may be carried in nearby stores. This option can be explored if buying small/locally is a priority or online supplies are exhausted. The lines between Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday are totally blurred as every day after Halloween now seems to be an online shopping sale day whether at the corner running store or corporate giant.
 
In pre-Covid-19 times, small businesses might have relied heavily on foot traffic within their brick-and-mortar stores and skimped on website information and offerings. With protective pandemic restrictions in place globally, which have reduced in-person browsing and spending, many of these same boutique businesses have boosted their online presences and made remote shopping a priority on easier, user-friendly websites. 
 
It may now be less risky to “shop small” if shoppers are more knowledgeable and confident about specific products or brands, especially if small businesses have mitigated risk by instituting procedures assuring on-time deliveries at reasonable shipping rates.
 
Other notable aspects of this RW list is that it includes products priced in an affordable range and highlights a variety of brands, both famous and lesser-known names not likely to be represented in big-box store offerings.
For me this list is an education. I’ve found new companies and novel gear items that can be further researched. Not only do I have ideas for gifting, but I have ideas for constructing my own wish list. When a loved one asks what I would like to receive, my mind often goes blank if searching for non-budget-busting dream gifts. Even the price of a good pair of merino wool socks can be too high for a tiny wallet. Yes, there’s a pair in this list I would like to investigate, and I found several nearby small stores that carry them. 
 
Rather than waiting after Thanksgiving to blog about shopping, Earned Runs is posting its Turkey Weekend retail therapy story in advance.  While watching the re-made Macy’s Parade or spectator-free football games that don’t require close attention, readers can browse this list and prepare to broach the topic of athletic-gear gifting in later video- and phone conversations with family and friends. 
 
Lower-priced items on the RW list that caught my attention:
$14.99 merino wool socks
$24.99 sports face mask (of course this is for Covid19 protection)
$25 sport sunglasses worn by celebrities
$29.96 skin repair spray
$39.99 compression socks
$45 soft tee
$54.99 smartwatch
$59.99 wireless earbuds
 
In addition to Thanksgiving Thursday feasting and gatherings, I’ve always happily anticipated brick-and-mortar Black Friday shopping experiences and don’t want to lose this part of the holiday.  This year especially traditions are being challenged, so best to evolve and discover new traditions to cherish. 
 
RUN & MOVE HAPPY!
 
https://www.runnersworld.com/gear/a34658400/best-running-gear-2020
 
http://www.holidayscalendar.com/event/small-business-saturday/