ARE all revenue generating ideas from the USA the best for Britain?

We have had fast-food, ‘Trick or Treat’ and now Black Friday.

The term is a reference to retailers going ’into the black’ with a sales rush the day after ‘Thanksgiving’.

In the UK, Amazon promoted the idea as a pre-Christmas sale opportunity from around four years ago.

Other retailers soon joined in, including Asda, of course owned by the US giant Wal-Mart. So as a shopper are you prepared to fight it out in Golden Square or your local supermarket or have you turned to on-line?

At this time of year Warrington’s logistics sector is stretched to maximum, distributing for delivery to busy shops and to your door.

‘Next day’ has become the norm for many consumer goods and improving mobile phone technology has people ordering from anywhere, not just from in front of their PC. Accurate delivery slots save waiting around too.

But before hitting the Visa, think if it can wait until January? At this time of year a few loss-leaders draw people in and retailers gain from their other purchases.

So will the good old New Year sales be soon enough for that special treat?

LAWRENCE Bellamy is associate dean at the University of Chester's Padgate campus and writes a regular column for business.