Product Expert Gives Iowans Some Black Friday, Holiday Shopping Advice

The bustle of Black Friday coupled with the holiday shopping season can be overwhelming. Factor in Cyber Monday, where e-commerce websites can put items on sale for a vague duration of time (one day or one week, depending), and you have the perfect storm to be overwhelmed.

With Black Friday this week, and TV and radio commercials already prominently featuring jingle bells, I got to chat with Annemarie Conte of The New York Times' website Wirecutter, which is dedicated to product reviews and investigation. I wanted to pick Conte's brain about holiday shopping deals and how consumers can navigate an often-exhausting landscape.

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One burning question was on my mind: is it better to buy a TV on Black Friday or in the week leading up to the Super Bowl? Annemarie Conte was able to break down the nuances of how and when TVs go on sale, and whether or not the deals are better during any given time of the year.

Furthermore, one of the biggest buzzwords in 2025 has been "tariffs," due to President Donald Trump's sweeping actions that placed taxes on goods imported from dozens of countries. Tariffs will indeed factor into this holiday shopping season, which means items from other countries will be more expensive. That said, Conte assured me and others that good deals will still be available.

It was fascinating to hear from someone who lives and breathes deals and product investigation. Annemarie Conte also spoke to some underrated aspects of holiday shopping; simple things people can do to prevent fatigue and exhaustion when trying to shop for those who love.

Take a listen to my interview with Annemarie Conte below, and check out Wirecutter's website for the latest in product reviews and deep-dives!