Fellow overseas shopping enthusiasts know that getting the best deals on essentials and luxuries ultimately comes down to timing. By understanding when seasonal items might go on sale and when major promotions happen, you can snag the items you want at limited prices.
In 2023, major international overseas shopping websites frequently hold promotions, and the corresponding seasons will inevitably affect the sales and promotion timing of certain products.
Below is a list compiled by our editor of all the major promotion time points to mark on your calendar for 2023 (which generally holds true for other years as well), so you can plan your overseas shopping strategy:
New Year's Day
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Presidents Day
St. Patrick's Day
Easter
Mother's Day
Memorial Day
Father's Day
Fourth of July
Amazon Prime Day
Tax-free weekends
Labor Day
Halloween
Black Friday
Cyber Monday
Super Saturday
New Year's Eve
What can you shop for in January?
1. Winter clothing. By the end of January, overseas retailers move heavy coats, sweatshirts, thermal pajamas, winter boots, sweaters, hats, and scarves to the sale racks to make way for spring fashion. You can get up to 50% off winter clothing. While you might still find discounts from some retailers in February, supply dwindles as stores stop stocking new winter items. So, January is the golden time for winter clothing shopping.
2. Bed sheets and towels. Department stores and home goods retailers like Kohl's, Macy's, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Pottery Barn traditionally hold "white sales" for bath and bedding items in January. Stores may not use that exact term anymore (it's a more traditional name coined decades ago), but sales on towels and sheets reliably appear every year.
3. TVs. The period leading up to the Super Bowl is one of the best times of the year to buy a TV. Those looking to shop for electronics overseas should pay extra attention. Check for promotions at your favorite electronics stores, big-box retailers, or warehouse club stores in the last few weeks of January.
Important promotion days in January:
1. New Year's Day. New Year's Day is essentially the foreign New Year, and many stores have New Year sales. Although consumers might be exhausted from the past year, Amazon, Target, Walmart, and other major retailers often hold New Year sales with significant discounts. After all, they need to clear shelves in stores or warehouses to make room for new items to sell.
2. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Expect discounts on clothing, beauty products, and home goods during this long weekend.
What can you shop for in February?
1. Tax software. The IRS deadline for employers to send out W-2 forms is January 31st. So, February is when tax software companies like H&R Block and TurboTax start offering promo codes and discounts to early filers.
2. Jewelry. Wait until just after Valentine's Day, and you can find various discounted fine jewelry.
Important promotion days in February:
1. Presidents Day. You can often get great deals on mattresses and appliances during this long weekend.
What can you shop for in March?
1. Outdoor clothing for warm weather. As temperatures start to warm up in March, you'll begin to see promotions on various outdoor running clothes and shoes. Retailers selling camping gear and patio furniture will also join in. You might find better prices on these items in early fall, but choices are more abundant in early spring.
Important promotion days in March:
1. St. Patrick's Day. While St. Patrick's Day (and the week before) isn't a major sales holiday, it's a good time to find discounts on Irish-themed jewelry and other green gifts. Look for the best deals the day after the holiday.
What can you shop for in April?
1. Home goods and appliances. Due to spring cleaning activities and Earth Day, you'll find promotions on everything from vacuum cleaners to energy-efficient appliances.
2. Easter clothing. Easter is on April 9th. In the week leading up to Easter, you'll find sales on Easter Sunday outfits, especially children's spring dresses and suits. Even if you're not hosting a party, it's a good time to update your child's wardrobe.
Important promotion days in April:
1. Easter. Stores are quiet on Easter Sunday (some are closed), but the lead-up is full of promotions. Expect discounts on spring clothing at department stores, and deals on gift baskets and flowers on gift sites. Also, after the holiday, you'll find discounted Easter candy and baskets.
What can you shop for in May?
1. Spring clothing. As stores make room for summer fashion, clearance racks and online clearance sections will be filled with spring items.
2. Appliances. Memorial Day is one of the best days of the year to buy refrigerators, washing machines, dryers, and other large appliances.
Important promotion days in May:
1. Mother's Day. Start looking for sales on jewelry, perfume, and other popular Mother's Day gifts in the weeks leading up to May 14th.
2. Memorial Day. The three-day weekend offers plenty of deals on clothing and appliances.
What can you shop for in June?
1. Restaurant gift cards. Due to Father's Day and graduation season, many restaurant chains offer bonus cards when you purchase gift cards.
2. Tools and grills. As Father's Day approaches, home improvement stores discount grills, power tools, lawn mowers, tool sets, garage organizers, and more. So, June is a great time to update your tool collection.
Important promotion days in June:
1. Father's Day. Before June 19th, look out for sales on watches, men's clothing, shoes, wallets, TVs, tools, and other popular gifts for dads.
What can you shop for in July?
1. Tech electronics. By mid-month, you'll find deals on smart home devices, gaming systems, TVs, and computers from Amazon (and all its competing retailers).
2. Furniture. Fourth of July furniture sales tend to be strong, so plan your kitchen table or sectional purchase accordingly.
Important promotion days in July:
1. Independence Day. Independence Day is one of the hottest shopping holidays of the year, often bringing Black Friday-level promotions.
2. Amazon Prime Day. Prime Day typically occurs in mid-July.
What can you shop for in August?
1. Summer clothing and swimwear. As summer winds down, retailers will want to clear out summer items to prepare for fall shelves.
2. School supplies and laptops. With the first day of school approaching in late August or early September, big-box stores and office supply stores offer deals on laptops, art supplies, notebooks, and more. Traditionally, Apple also starts its back-to-school promotions in August.
Important promotion days in August:
1. Tax-free weekends. Many retailers offer tax-free weekend promotions in August, during which certain clothing, school supplies, and even electronics are exempt from sales tax, meaning they are cheaper.
What can you shop for in September?
1. Outdoor furniture and grills. Labor Day marks the end of barbecue season, so items used for outdoor entertaining go on sale. After September, patio furniture becomes harder to find as retailers typically stop stocking it for the winter.
Important promotion days in September:
1. Labor Day. Besides appliances and mattresses, remaining back-to-school sale clothes will also be on promotion.
What can you shop for in October?
1. Older model iPhones. Apple usually launches its newest phones in September, so look for discounted older models in October.
2. Comfortable clothes. As temperatures drop, retailers will offer tempting discounts on leggings, robes, sweatshirts, and joggers. You'll find better sales in January, but more choices in October.
Important promotion days in October:
1. Halloween. Halloween itself isn't a major shopping day, but around this time, any costumes, candy, and spooky decorations that didn't sell earlier in the month start to go on sale.
What can you shop for in November?
1. TVs and electronics. With Black Friday and pre-Black Friday sales starting at the beginning of the month, November is the season for buying TVs, smart home devices, tablets, computers, and smartwatches.
Important promotion days in November:
1. Black Friday. Traditionally, Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving – when people seriously start their holiday shopping – but it has expanded into an almost month-long event.
2. Cyber Monday. On November 27th, "Cyber Monday" offers online deals and may repeat many Black Friday deals from November 24th. This day is also known for deals on clothing and travel.
What can you shop for in December?
1. Toys and games. As Christmas approaches, retailers start discounting toys and games to avoid being stuck with inventory after the holidays.
Important promotion days in December:
1. Super Saturday. Good news for those who haven't finished their holiday shopping: the Saturday before Christmas and the days surrounding it are filled with last-minute deals.
2. New Year's Eve. Post-Christmas and New Year sales typically occur from December 26th to January 1st, marking the time to look for deals as the next promotion cycle begins again.