It’s a day we Weegies are still trying to get used to, considering it’s still relatively new here in the UK.

First introduced in the US where it’s held after Thanksgiving Day, Black Friday is now very much an event where frantic shoppers can secure the best bargains available in the run up to Christmas Day.

The shopping bonanza will last all weekend and many stores participating - with the likes of Currys, Argos, Tesco and John Lewis - are set to open their doors as early as 6am.

Black Friday has become increasingly popular here in recent years. Set to kick off this Friday (November 24), UK shoppers are expected to spend £2.6 billion - an 8% increase on the £2.4 billion spent last year - or £1.8 million per minute, snapping up deals both online and in stores, according to predictions by VoucherCodes and the Centre for Retail Research (CRR).

Over the course of the whole weekend last year, shoppers spent a jaw-dropping £5.8 billion.

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Other major retailers, including Amazon and AO.com, have already started their events early this week.

Don’t be daunted by the prospect of crowds and massive queues, though. This week, British online marketplace Onbuy.com found that, out of 20 major UK cities, queues in Glasgow are expected to be among the shortest around. With the average queue time in the city just 15 minutes and 24 seconds, Glaswegians will be grateful they’re not in Manchester where shoppers should set themselves up for lining up for a staggering 52 minutes and 31 seconds.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Black Friday offer exclusively for Herald readers

If, like us, you like to get up and head out to catch a bargain, these are the hottest deals in and around Glasgow this Black Friday weekend:

Buchanan Galleries

Offers, deals and promotions at the centre include:

  • Claire’s Accessories - Daily deals
  • Jones Bootmaker - Up to 30% off selected brands, including Barbour, Gabor, Loake, Timberland and Jones London
  • Menkind - Save up to 70%, with deals on every day of Black Friday week
  • Moss Bros - 20% off selected lines until November 26
  • Phase Eight - 25% off everything until November 27, plus daily deals
  • Quiz - Up to half off selected lines for a limited time only
  • Sole Trader - Up to 40% off until November 27
  • The Entertainer - Multiple deals on, more information available in-store
  • Trespass - Up to 70% off selected lines until November 26

The centre is open from 9am to 7pm on Friday.

Princes Square

The mall’s top deals are:

  • Ted Baker - 30% off until Monday, November 27
  • Dower & Hall - 20% off silver and vermeil as well as 10% off precious
  • Crabtree’s cyber weekend - 25% off and 30% off when you spend £50 or more
  • Karen MIllen - 25% off everything, plus daily deals which offer 35% off selected products including workwear and essentials. Head to the store to find out more
  • Argento - Buy a rose-base bracelet for £35 and get £20 to spend on composable charms
  • Radley - Up to 50% off selected lines
  • Whistles - 25% off everything
  • Kurt Geiger - 20% off all products
  • French Connection - Up to 50% off selected lines
  • Joules - Up to 50% off selected lines

Shop trading hours are not changing and the centre will open from the normal 10am to 7pm on Friday.

St. Enoch Centre

Savvy shoppers are being offered the chance to claim a free fiver on Black Friday.

Those who spend over £25 will be eligible for a £5 gift card to spend anywhere in the centre. Retailers including Debenhams, Hamleys, Disney, and Boots will be offering a range of discounts and special offers on the day.

St. Enoch Centre is extending its trading hours - from 9am to 9pm - on the day to ensure bargain hunters have plenty of time to get their Christmas shopping in.

John Lewis

John Lewis is launching its widest ever selection of Black Friday deals, with thousands of offers available across categories including technology, home, fragrance, and toys.

Top tech Black Friday offers at John Lewis:

  • Google Home Smart Speaker - was £129, now £79
  • Google Home Mini - was £49, now £34
  • Samsung Gear S3 Frontier Smartwatch - was £349.95, now £246.99
  • Fitbit Alta - was £99.99, now £69.99
  • Nest Thermostat - was £219, now £199

The Buchanan Galleries branch will be opening earlier at 9am and closing later at 8pm on Friday.

House of Fraser

The department store has announced its longest ever Black Friday, with deals having been made available online from 5pm on Thursday, November 16 and in stores from Friday, November 17.

Offers will run until midnight on Monday, November 27.

With top deals across home, women’s, men’s, children’s and beauty, some of the top offers are:

  • £300 off the Delonghi Bean to cup coffee machine
  • More than 50% off the Le Creuset starter set
  • £200 off a Label Lab leather jacket
  • Howick men’s tailored suit for £65

The Buchanan Street branch will be opening for 13 hours on Friday, from 8am to 9pm.

Debenhams

A new Debenhams survey has found the early bird really does catch the worm when it on Black Friday; more than one in ten (14%) are planning to wake up at 6am to face the sales.

The department store chain is estimating the top 10 purchases customers will make are in personal technology, toys, coats, beauty, and boots.

The Argyle Street store will be open for a mammoth 14 hours on Friday - from 8am until 10pm - with the Silverburn one opening from 10am to 10pm. The East Kilbride branch will trade from 8am to 9pm.

intu Braehead

Argos launched its sale last week with 14 days of reduced prices.

From tomorrow, though, the centre’s top deals can be found at:

  • B&Q - Up to 50% off selected lines
  • Superdry - Save 20% with daily deal
  • T.K. Maxx - Big brand flash events every day this month
  • Gymshark - Up to half off absolutely everything, until stocks last

The centre will open an hour earlier than normal at 9am and will be open until 9pm on Friday.

On Saturday, it will open as normal at 9am but stay open an extra half hour until 7pm. Sunday will see the mall open from 10am until 7pm.

Silverburn

Top deals:

  • M&S - More than 50% off branded beauty sets such as Pixi, Ren, Percy & Reed, Red Carpet Nails, and Emma Bridgewater
  • Miss Selfridge at Debenhams - 50% off selected items 
  • Remus Uomo - 40% off
  • Levi's - 30% off
  • Jack Wills - Up to 50% off  
  • Debenhams - Up to 30% off throughout store and10% off beauty and fragrance 
  • The Entertainer - Up to 70% off selected items 

The centre will be open from 10am to 9pm, although extended hours are in place for Next (8am to 10pm) and Debenhams (8am–11pm).

EK, East Kilbride

EK has made available some offers across the mall. More will be added daily, so keep an eye on the website for details.

The top deals, so far, include:

  • Debenhams’ seven days of offers - different offer every day this week
  • Clarks - 20% off selected adult styles from November 20 to 26
  • French Connection - up to 50% off selected lines between November 22 and 27
  • Bonmarche - Buy one get one half price on everything from November 21 to 27
  • Dune - 20% off everything from November 20 to 26
  • The Perfume Shop - Different deals every day from November 20 to 26, PLUS get 20% off a second item
  • Trespass - Up to 70% off selected lines between 22 and 26 November

The centre will be open from 9am to 8pm on Friday.

Top three tips for a successful Black Friday spree:

1. Set a budget - Don’t be fooled into spending more than you can, work out what you can afford and stick to it. No item is worth landing yourself in debt.

2. Do your research - If you have a purchase in mind, be sure to do your research, shop around and compare the best retail price.

3. Know your rights - The Consumer Rights Act says goods should be of satisfactory quality, fit to do the job intended, and last a reasonable length of time. This right is limited to 30 days from the date you buy your product.