I’ve been keeping an eye on all the early Prime Day deals before the sale officially begins tomorrow, and my No. 1 pick is Amazon’s own smart plug, which has been a best seller with Strategist readers every Prime (and October Prime) Day since 2023.

Prime Day shopping events to entice cautious consumers and play defense against stiffer competition from the likes of Walmart Inc., Target Corp. and TikTok, who have launched their own discount days in response.

Online spending is expected to surge to $23.8 billion across U.S. retailers during a 96-hour Amazon Prime Day event this week, according to an Adobe Analytics forecast released on Monday, as shoppers seek strong discounts on back-to-school gear ranging from apparel to electronics.