The do’s and don’ts of planning your holiday shopping to avoid the rush, according to a Google Trends expert
Google’s data indicates that crowds are busiest at grocery stores, bakeries, airports, and salons on Saturdays.
The holiday season is right around the corner and planning your week ahead could help you beat the crowds and save time.
B-17 spoke to Google Trends and technology expert Jennifer Jones ahead of Thanksgiving to get advice on the best way to plan your week during the holiday rush.
While trends may vary by location — and Google Maps can also provide information on specific locations and stores — these tips are based on national trends.
Don’t run your errands on Saturday
Jones recommends avoiding Saturday errands altogether, whether you’re heading to a bakery, grocery store, or salon.
“Try to get in on a different day,” Jones said. “Those tend to be really super busy.”
Google data also shows that airports tend to be the busiest on Saturdays, peaking between 10:00 a.m. to noon.
Get your groceries Sunday morning
Ironically, the busiest and slowest times at the grocery stores both fall on Sunday.
Jones said 8:00 a.m. on a Sunday, when most grocery stores open, is the best time of the week to do your shopping.
The worst time is just a few hours later at 1:00 p.m.
If you plan to purchase baked goods for the holiday, Jones said the best time to hit a bakery is also early morning at 8:00 a.m., but on a Monday.
Save all other shopping for the weekdays
Stores are the busiest around 1:00 and 2:00 p.m. on a Saturday, according to Google. If you want to skip the lines, Jones said the best time to tackle shopping chores is 10:00 a.m. on a Monday.
If you plan to shop on Black Friday, Google’s data shows that the busiest travel times are between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. If you want to avoid the crowds, you may want to consider scheduling your shopping trip for later in the day.
Don’t hit the road on these days
If you plan to travel Thanksgiving week, make sure you avoid leaving Friday. Jones said it’s “the absolute worst time” to hit the roads Thanksgiving week.
Tuesday and Wednesday around 1:00 and 2:00 p.m. are also peak times for traffic.
Roads are typically clearest the week of Thanksgiving on Sunday or Monday around 8:00 p.m.
It’s best to skip road trips on Thanksgiving — but if you plan to travel on Thanksgiving Day, Jones suggests avoiding the roads between 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. as that’s when people do the most travel, Jones said.
“Try to hit the road in the morning before 9:00 a.m.,” she said. “So early again or after the 3 p.m. late lunch traffic to avoid that heavy traffic.”
Google recently introduced a number of new features to Google Maps, including a “products nearby” feature that displays in-store inventory information from local retailers. Users can also report transit delays and see which lines or routes are impacted.
