The week of Thanksgiving traditionally marks the beginning of the holiday shopping season. However, 2020 is different from previous years. From pandemics to the postponement of Amazon Prime Day, retailers are gearing up for what could be an unprecedented surge in online shopping, Black Friday 2020.

"I think we can expect at least a 30% increase during the peak of the festive shopping season, but it could be pushed to 50% if stores are forced to close," Andy Mulcahy of IMRG told the BBC in an interview. (IMRG is the UK's online retail association.) Having seen Amazon nearly crushed by high consumer demand earlier this year, Mulcahy suggests that consumers diversify their shopping. He says, "If they can spread out their shopping and do more shopping in November, maybe they can do a little bit of that now.

Staggering shopping would prevent spikes in demand and relieve pressure from retailers and delivery companies.

Wal-Mart, Target, and Overstock are just a handful of the nation's top retailers planning big sales in October. Home Depot, on the other hand, has announced that it will begin its Black Friday sales on November 1. Amazon is rumored to begin its Black Friday sales as early as October 26. (That's before Halloween!)

We're used to seeing early Black Friday sales, but Black Friday 2020 will be something completely different, and Tom'sGuide will bring you the best deals of the season, whether it's TVs or mattresses.