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With summer in full swing, many retailers look to July sales to lure shoppers back into their stores (or their e-commerce sites) during an otherwise slower time of year. Retailers will use

the long weekend around the Fourth of July as an opportunity for sales on big-ticket items like appliances, televisions and furniture. Since the actual holiday falls on a Thursday this year,

sales could start even earlier. “I wouldn’t be surprised to see some Fourth of July sales starting on that Monday [July 1],” says Kimberly Palmer, a consumer expert with Nerdwallet. The

deals won't end with Independence Day sales. Amazon is holding its annual Prime Day sale from July 16 to July 17. Not to be outdone, rival retailers are also having high-profile sales

this month. Walmart Deals will run July 8-11, and Target Circle Week is July 7-13 . By the end of July, retailers are already thinking ahead to fall as they start marking down prices on

summer clothing, back-to-school items and outdoor sporting equipment. Two other “cool” retail holidays to keep in mind this month: July 11 (or 7/11), which 7-Eleven has branded Slurpee Day,

an excuse to give out free small Slurpees to customers, and National Ice Cream Day on July 21, when you can expect deals from stores like Dairy Queen and Baskin-Robbins. Here’s a look at

some specific categories where shoppers may see some deals this month: APPLIANCES Like Labor Day and Memorial Day weekend, the long Fourth of July holiday has traditionally prompted

retailers to slash prices on big-ticket appliances like washing machines, ovens and refrigerators. “After Memorial Day, Fourth of July is really the next best time to shop for major

appliances,” says Julie Ramhold, a senior staff writer and consumer analyst at DealNews. Often retailers will offer larger discounts to customers who bundle purchases, making this a great

opportunity for shoppers who might need a suite of appliances as part of a kitchen renovation or laundry room upgrade. _WHERE TO LOOK FOR DEALS:_ Whirlpool, Lowe’s, Home Depot _POTENTIAL

SAVINGS:_ Up to 50 percent off ELECTRONICS Electronics, including headphones, speakers and tablets are among the items with the biggest markdowns during Amazon Prime Day and competing sales.

“We see a lot of similarities at other stores, so once Amazon Prime Day gets announced, keep an eye out for other sales at similar online retailers,” Palmer says. If you’re shopping

Amazon’s sale, which is only open to Prime members, the biggest deals will be on the company’s branded items such as Alexa speakers, Kindle e-readers and Ring doorbells. _WHERE TO LOOK FOR

DEALS:_ Best Buy, Amazon, Walmart _POTENTIAL SAVINGS: _50 percent off or more