One of the most hectic days in the retail calendar, Black Friday sees stores launch huge sales to encourage customer spending, and typically marks the start of the Christmas shopping season.

Giving shoppers the chance to bag some cheap deals on an array of items ahead of the big day, this year’s Black Friday will take place on Friday 27 November.

However, many retailers often start their discounts ahead of time; this year, some retailers are expected to launch their sales even earlier than usual after suffering a difficult year of trading amid the ongoing pandemic.

That included Amazon, which started its discount spree more than a month early.

Black Friday 2020: date it starts and what UK deals to expect - including Amazon

Here is everything you need to know.

How does Amazon’s sale work?

Amazon’s Black Friday began on 26 October, over a month ahead of the big day, though its ‘official’ Black Friday sale runs between 20 and 30 November.

In the run up to its Black Friday week, Amazon launched hundreds of 'Deals of the Day', as well as limited 'Lightning Deals' that were only available while stocks last.

Discounts have been being applied to products across a range of categories, including toys, beauty and Amazon's popular own-brand devices, and this is set to continue as the retailer’s Black Friday week gets underway ‘properly’.

To see what items Amazon has to offer, go to amazon.co.uk/blackfriday.

What deals can I get at Amazon?

At the time of writing, some of the most exciting deals include a fourth generation Echo Dot smart speaker with Alexa for £28.99 (a saving of over 40 per cent), and 38 per cent saving on a Fire TV Stick with Alexa Voice Remote, bringing the price to £24.99.

These discounts will change regularly, so make sure you keep checking back for the latest offers on tech, housewares, gaming, Amazon devices, and many more!

What other retailers will be doing early sales?

Deals website Money Saver Online has rounded up some estimated dates for when sales are expected to start at various major retailers this year.

While dates are yet to officially be confirmed, here’s when you could expect discounts to launch.

Sales are expected to start at Argos on 23 November, just four days ahead of Black Friday, but this is yet to be confirmed; last year’s sale included price cuts to a range of major brands, including Apple and Dyson.

Shoppers can reportedly expect sales to begin from 11 November at Currys PC World, with discounts likely to be made on various TV, audio, computer, phones, gaming and appliances.

Reports suggest that beauty retailer Superdrug will launch its sales on either 11 or 14 November.

Halfords’ Black Friday deals will start on 17 November this year, with discounts expected on in-car technology, tools, car cleaning products and scooters.

Popular among parents in the run-up to Christmas, sales at toy store The Entertainer are expected to begin on 20 November, although this is still to be confirmed.

Sales at Next are expected to start on Black Friday itself, on 27 November, although an earlier date could be announced closer to the time.

Why is it called Black Friday?

Black Friday originally began in the US, but has since become an annual event here in the UK and several other countries.

The earliest evidence of the phrase "Black Friday” dates to at least 1961, and suggests the term originated in Philadelphia, where it was used by police to describe the heavy and disruptive traffic that would occur on the day after Thanksgiving.

As the phrase became more widespread, a popular explanation became that the day represents the point in the year when retailers begin to turn a profit, thus going from being "in the red" to being "in the black".

Amazon Black Friday 2020: how Prime members can get early access to bargains on Amazon UK - and when deals go live