Your Ultimate Guide to Early Holiday Shopping: Black Friday Tips, Local Guelph Finds, and Stress-Free Ways to Shop
The holidays are coming, and it’s the perfect time to get a jump start on your shopping! Shopping early means less stress, more time to enjoy the season, and the chance to score great deals during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Plus, Guelph offers an incredible selection of local shops where you can find unique gifts while supporting our community. In this guide, we’ll share how to shop smart, snag the best Black Friday and Cyber Monday discounts, and make the most of Guelph’s vibrant local shopping scene.
Start Your Shopping Early
With the busiest and most expensive season of the year upon us, it’s crucial to make the most of both your time and your budget! Here's why shopping early is the smart choice:
More Stock, Less Stress
- Prices can sometimes rise for certain products due to high demand or scarcity
- Shopping early can help to save you money, and ensure that you find what you are looking for!
Avoiding Delivery Delays
- Shopping early allows you to have a higher chance of getting items delivered on time and alleviates stress and last-minute shopping.
Budget Friendly
- Shopping early allows you to spread out your budget over a longer period, which can help prevent overspending
- Starting early can also give you access to early sales and discounts that will help save you money
Avoiding the Chaos
- The holiday season breeds long lines, large crowds, and a frenzy of last-minute shoppers. Shopping early lets you skip the chaos and reduce stress, giving you more time to enjoy the season!
Easy Gift Returns
- Starting your shopping early allows for easier gift returns, as you will have the time to plan out your shopping and make returns if necessary.

Scoring the Best Black Friday Deals
With Black Friday and Cyber Monday just around the corner, it’s essential to make the most of your shopping strategy! Here’s how to score the best deals:
Start Early
- Pre-Black Friday sales are common in the weeks leading up to the event, offering discounts on popular items before the holiday chaos begins—so be sure to sign up for alerts from your favourite retailers to get notified about early access and flash deals
Do Your Research
- Make a list of the items you want to buy and prioritize them to avoid impulse purchases that may not be the best bargains; use comparison websites or browser extensions to ensure you're getting the best deal
- Be mindful of Black Friday event timings—some deals start at midnight online, while others are in-store only—and remember that Cyber Monday often offers the best discounts on tech, electronics, and online-only products.
Follow Social Media and Influencers
- Retailers frequently post flash deals, coupons, and giveaways on their social media accounts, so be sure to follow them for the latest offers
- Influencers often share exclusive promo codes, giveaways, or extra discounts that can help you save even more.
Watch Out For Return Policies
- Some retailers have special return policies for Black Friday items, so it’s important to double-check the return policy before making a purchase, especially for big-ticket items.


Shopping Local
With the holiday season upon us, it’s the perfect time to support local businesses and make the most of your budget. Here’s a number of local businesses to support in Guelph:
Guelph Farmer's Market Vendors:
- Carol's Art
- Eastern Woodlands Trading Co
- Liz Hales Pottery
- Maryhill Organic
- Nourish Kitchen
- Strictly Organic Gardens
- SweetCheeses!
- Top Market Meats
Downtown Businesses:
- Blue Iris Studios
- Buy the Yard Interiors
- Cheeky Bambino Baby Boutique Inc.
- Dino’s Athletic Direct
- Creative Edge
- Feather & Foe
- Flour Barrel
- Grit & Grace
- Guelph Tool Library
- Guelph Music
Looking for more local businesses? Click here to discover what Guelph has to offer!


