Black Friday and Cyber Monday are two of the biggest shopping days of the year, and 2011 will be no different. This season, the National Retail Federation predicts a 2.8% rise in holiday sales, with a staggering 36% of holiday shopping predicted to take place online. So, of course, the agency’s contacts in the US are getting ready for the shopping rush!

We all know that in the US Black Friday is renowned for being the single best day to get the greatest in-store deals. But there’s a downside; a day of hectic, early morning, mad rushes to large name brand stores.

If this doesn’t appeal, then you’ll be happy to know that some of those same retailers are now looking to capitalise on the Black Friday/Cyber Monday fever this year by taking their deals online – with some deals exactly the same, some similar, and some even better!

So, to help all our readers in the US find the best deals, Talent Management is here with a quick run through of the latest retail trends and technological tools associated with Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals.

• Free Shipping – We’ve all come across bloated shipping charges in the past, which is the fastest way to put any online shopper off. Thankfully, retailers have taken note and now many online stores are offering free shipping or free ship-to-store options. Remember though, free shipping isn’t always advertised on store websites, so check sites like DealTaker.com or Coupon Sherpa to find free shipping codes that may otherwise be unknown.

• Mobile Apps – A variety of retailers and coupon websites offer free mobile apps making it easier to compare prices and find special offers. We love DealTaker.com’s Black Friday iPhone and iPad app, which helps you track new ads and special offers from your favourite stores. The Barcode Reader app by SHAPE Services is also great; it helps you find the lowest possible prices in local and online stores simply by snapping a photo of any printed barcode.

• Start Early – Along with the trend towards midnight store openings, online Black Friday offers are getting an early start too. Many specials and sales are available online on Thanksgiving Day or earlier, running throughout the weekend and Cyber Monday. So, if you know which items you want, you can avoid long lines and crazy crowds by shopping online early.

• Social Networks – Retailers and deal aggregators alike are promoting their Black Friday ads and offers through social network sites like Facebook. To take advantage of these “inside” deals, we recommend you visit the Facebook pages of your favourite stores as well as deal sites to get the down low on all upcoming sales.

So, now that you have your smart online shopping strategy, you can save on money, time and stress, and still get the items you want.

Happy shopping from the team at Talent Management!