Singles' Day November 11, 2018

Singles' Day

There is no shopping event quite like Singles' Day. The holiday was started in the 90s by university students as day to celebrate being single — the antithesis to Valentine's Day. Celebrations then were casual: people bought things for themselves and spent time together at bars.

Today, the holiday looks a lot different. Retailers have taken over, transforming the day into a 24-hour shopping extravaganza across China. Every year at midnight on November 11, millions of shoppers rush to China's online stores at the chance to score the best deals of the year. Shoppers stock up on essentials in bulk — from toilet paper to snacks — and score electronics, makeup, apparel and more at unbelievable deals. It's a race to grab the best deals before they're gone. And yes, items sell out FAST.

In 2017, Singles' Day sales totaled nearly $18 billion! That easily makes November 11 the biggest shopping day in the world. With your Borderlinx Hong Kong address, you don't have to sit back and watch the savings pass you by. Here's how to make the most of Singles' Day shopping.

Shopping Singles Day: What to Look for and Where to Go

When the clock strikes midnight across China, the race begins. If you're serious about finding good deals, you'll have to do a little planning. Veteran shoppers spend the weeks leading up to Singles' Day creating lists of items they most want, and then strategize what to buy in case any of them go out of stock.

So what kind of products go on sale? Pretty much everything. Every year, Singles' Day becomes increasingly more competitive for retailers across the country, and it incentivizes them all to offer a more appealing deal than the next. Discounts and special offers vary too. Discounts can reach up to 80%, and it's not unusual to see high discounts for buying items in bulk.

As a first-time international shopper this Singles' Day, keep in mind that most retailers will display information in Mandarin Chinese. We recommend installing a translation tool, like Google Translate, to your browser so that you can shop in the language of your choice. The bigger retailers even have special versions of their sites in popular languages.

Retailers to Check out

• ParknShop

  ParknShop is one of Hong Kong's leading supermarket chains. From health and beauty needs to pet care, this retailer carries a wide variety of products at low prices. If you're interested in shopping local brands, this is a great place to start.

• AliExpress

  AliExpress is a global retail marketplace comprised of sellers offering an impressive catalog of brands in electronics, fashion, beauty, sports, toys, baby gear, auto accessories and much more. You'll find big names from time to time (such as Adidas, Nike and Carter's) along with local brands that are popular across Asia. Shop with your Borderlinx Hong Kong address to get your items faster. Shipping direct from AliExpress can sometimes take up to 30 days!

• TMall

  Tmall was the first retailer to begin marketing November 11 as a retail holiday, so naturally it's a very popular destination for Singles' Day discounts. The marketplace sells everything from apparel to kitchen appliances, and it's easy to find name brands. British fashion brands, such as Burberry, ASOS, Waitrose and Marks & Spencer, have their own marketplaces on the website. As do top electronic names, such as Huawei, Samsung and Lenovo.

• JoyBuy (JD.com)

  JoyBuy is an English language site operated by Chinese retailer JD.com. You'll find quality products directly from China at competitive prices. Shop with Borderlinx for faster shipping — it could take anywhere between 3 to 60 days to receive orders when shipping from JoyBuy alone. From smartphones to speakers and golf clubs to camping gear, this retailer will likely carry something you need.

• GearBest

  Another retailer with a wide selection of Chinese brands is GearBest. It's a tech lover's dream with products such as tablets, smartphones, headphones and action cameras. But it's not just an electronics store. GearBest also carries men and women's apparel, baby essentials, makeup, office supplies and kitchenware at low prices.

Singles' Day Moves out of China

Singles' Day dominates China, but the holiday is starting to catch the attention of retailers in other countries. Last year, we spotted a few online stores in the U.S. and U.K. that offered one-day-only discounts to celebrate. Check your favorite retailers on November 11 just in case!

Snapshot of Singles' Day 2017

Here's a peek at what Borderlinx shoppers bought during last year's Singles' Day.

Top 10 Products

• 22%

  Gesundheit & Schönheit

• 21%

  Personal Electronics

• 17%

  Apparel

• 14%

  Schuhe

• 13%

  Fashion Accessories

• 6%

  Electronic Accessories

• 4%

  Baby Gear and Accessories

• 2%

  Kitchenware, Other

• 2%

  Spielzeug

• 1%

  Dietary Supplements

How to Use Borderlinx for International Shipping on Singles' Day

While retailers are making it easy to save on the products you need this Singles' Day, Borderlinx is here to make international shipping convenient and affordable for you, too.

• Estimate International Shipping Costs

  Use the Borderlinx Shipping Cost Calculator to estimate the total cost of shipping to your home, including guaranteed taxes and duties.

• Sendungen zusammenfügen.

  Shipping packages individually can become expensive, so we recommend virtually consolidating your packages from our hubs when possible. Learn more here.

• Leave the Paperwork to Us

  Take the guesswork out of handling customs fees, and use Borderlinx to pay for taxes and duties on your next purchase.

Good luck this Singles' Day. We hope you find amazing deals!