For the first time, around 60 stores in downtown Faro they open their doors today, November 25th, to receive what is called Black Friday, the darkest Friday in terms of discounts and promotions.
Black Friday, a commercial action originating in the United States of America, which in Portuguese translates into a Black Friday of discounts, also arrives today in traditional commerce stores in Faro.
And it is the result of a partnership between the Association of Commerce and Services of the Algarve Region (ACRAL), the Rua de Santo António Commerce Association and the Municipality of Faro , which extends for the first time, this year, to downtown Algarve.
Between discounts and euphoria, the initiative promises to bring customers closer to local businesses, through gastronomy, clothing stores and even street entertainment.
With the arrival of Christmas, there are many people looking to “dispatch” the gifts and nothing better than a few discounts to start thinking about what to offer. This is the case of the write-off of Faro, a central area recognized for its large and diverse range of commerce, which will serve as a stage for this activity, from 19:00 pm to 21:30 pm, with the participation of more than 60 stores, with outdoor activities, such as fashion shows and even bright windows .
“Expectations are high and we obviously expect success,” says Álvaro Viegas, president of ACRAL. "Christmas is a fundamental time for an initiative like this", where it is hoped that people can enjoy discounts to save money on their purchases and also an inviting environment to go out to an "open-air shopping center" , concludes the one responsible.
The same enthusiasm is also felt by the owners of the participating stores, such as Helena Marques, manager of the ZARA store. “Although the discounts do not exceed 20%, the success will be similar to a first day of sales, with sales growth expected to be around 10%, compared to last year”, says Helena Marques.
The store manager of the Spanish multinational emphasizes that Faro it has grown with tourism and that initiatives like these end up having a “direct and positive impact” on the experience of the cities themselves.
The manager of one of the oldest goldsmiths in Rua de Santo António argues that “discounts have a great psychological effect on people” and sees this activity as a surprise. In the case of the jewelry business, it is different, as the jewelry does not come from collections dictated by the seasons of the year, being timeless pieces that rarely have discounts. Therefore, he argues, this turns out to be a unique opportunity for those looking for the luxury sector.
Despite being the first year in which the jeweler participates, the manager expects a greater influx of customers and an increase in purchases, even more so in the middle of the Christmas season.
Although Black Friday is expected to Faro manages less business than in large European cities such as Paris or London, you can expect a fun, dynamic evening with attractive prices.
This first edition of Black Friday in the commercial low of Faro integrates into broader entertainment program for the Christmas season and New Year's Eve.
Text and photography by Rúben Farrobinha, ETIC-Algarve student
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