With the countdown to Christmas is officially on now’s the time to get your holiday shopping out of the way – particularly on Black Friday on November 26 and Cyber Monday on November 29 – which can score you some great bargains.

E-commerce marketing expert and Black Friday aficionado Olivia Jenkins says with so many people logging on at once, being organised is crucial.

“Black Friday has really taken off in Australia in the last few years,” says Olivia who advises female-led brands in the beauty, fashion and lifestyle spaces at Olivia Jenkins Consulting. “It’s become a great day for locking in the best deals, whether you’re looking for a bargain, planning to finalise your Christmas gift list or just want to treat yourself to a little special.”

Here is Olivia’s essential check-list for a successful cyber shopping weekend.

1. Be organised as there will be a lot of people online

Make a list of your must-have items from each store or brand and be sure to bookmark the direct links in your phone to get direct access as soon as the sales go live.

2. Don’t unsubscribe from emails – no matter how annoying they might be

Brands will often email their VIPs first with priority access. Be sure to keep an eye on your inbox so you can snap up the offers as soon as you get the email with access to discount codes. It may be pesky getting so many emails in your inbox but if you’re a serious shopper, unsubscribing isn’t a great idea!

3. Read the terms and conditions

Read the returns and refund policy ahead of time and make sure you know where you stand if you decide to exchange, return or refund any of your items.

4. Have payment information ready to go

Don’t be caught out at the last minute by scrambling to get your credit card details ready. This year, stock levels are extremely limited everywhere due to COVID shipping and production delays so it pays to be ready ahead of time so your shopping competition doesn’t snap up the item of your dreams first.

5. Do your research

The day of the event is not the day to be researching which model is better or checking out reviews! Be sure to do your research early and know exactly what you want before you miss out.

6. Still try your discount code

Many brands will switch off discount codes or make them ineligible for during the sale. However, there are times when you can get a sneaky discount code through. If you have one on hand, try your luck anyway – particularly if the brand has manually marked down items.