Crowds hunt Black Friday bargains at McArthurGlen

Hundreds of shoppers flocked to McArthurGlen East Midlands Designer Outlet today in search of Black Friday bargains.
Black Friday shoppers converge on McArthurGlen East Midlands Designer Outlet.Black Friday shoppers converge on McArthurGlen East Midlands Designer Outlet.
Black Friday shoppers converge on McArthurGlen East Midlands Designer Outlet.

Shoppers clutching designer label carrier bags, boxes of kitchen appliances and discount luggage could be seen emerging into the packed car park at lunchtime.

It was a very civilised affair with no reports of fisticuffs, probably because many shops have now stretched the American inspired sales day over an entire week.

Or maybe people in the Midlands take a more measured approach to such things.

Virtually every outlet had a Black Friday offer helpfully signposted, from 20 to 70 per cent reductions quoted on designer goods.

There had been queues outside Video console and game company Game in the wee small hours according to store manager Ryan Marshall.

He said: “We opened from 9pm-3am and then opened again at 6am this morning.

“There were people queuing up at 5.30am.

“We had big savings on Playstation 4 bundles between £80-£120 and discounts on games - it was first come first served for the best deals.”

In the mall shoppers told of their cut-price deals.

Sherrie Wilson from Colwick said she had bought a watch from Watch Station reduced from £225 to £60.

She also carried a huge Christmas parcel of goodies from Thorntons reduced from £65 to £25.

She said; “It’s been really good and there hasn’t been a lot of hustle and bustle.”

Emily Hudson 77, from Arnold said she was thrilled to bits with a coat she had bought from Marks and Spencers - a snip at £45 reduced from £149.90.

Joanne and Terry Croft from Church Warsop were pushing a suitcase set which had been reduced by 50 per cent to £112.

Mr Croft said: “It’s our first Black Friday experience - so long as it’s like this with a good atmosphere it’s fine. I think the key is to come early to get a parking spot and have a good look round.”

Some people had no truck with the event.

Heather Milbourn and Aaron Fisher of Stapleford were sceptical about whether the bargains were all they were stacked up to be.

Aaron said: “I don’t buy Black Friday at all I would rather do it the British way and go to the sales in the New Year.”

Most retailers said they expected the sales to become more busy after 4pm.