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Sandwiched between the big shopping weekends of Memorial Day and the Fourth of July, June has fewer deals on big-ticket items, but some promotional events are worth smart shoppers’

attention. Those include deals on traditional Father’s Day (June 16) gifts like tools and sporting goods, items for newlyweds or recent grads, and semiannual sales from retailers looking to

drum up summer business from distracted shoppers. “We usually see the big retailers, like Bath & Body Works and Brooks Brothers, leading the way with semiannual sales in June, but

smaller online retailers and boutiques and physical stores will follow suit, because they know people are out shopping because of the sales,” says Kimberly Palmer, a consumer expert with

Nerdwallet. Plus, some of those holiday weekend sales will likely seep into June. “Usually, some Memorial Day sales get extended through the first week of the month, and you may also get

lucky with some early July Fourth sales,” says Julie Ramhold, a senior staff writer and consumer analyst at DealNews.  You may also see some deals at shops like Dunkin’, Krispy Kreme and

Duck Donuts, offering freebies in honor of National Doughnut Day, which each year falls on the first Friday of June. ​Beyond that, here are some categories to watch for savings this month:

ATHLETIC GEAR As summer officially kicks in, retailers look to attract shoppers who might be preparing to spend more time outdoors. Sporting goods stores will also likely have deals on

sports gear that might make for a good Father’s Day present such as golf clubs, hiking shoes or camping equipment. In addition to sports gear, keep an eye out for discounts on gym and

fitness studio memberships, since demand falls when people prefer to exercise outside. That also holds true for large indoor exercise equipment. “I would look at gym memberships this month,

because you may be able to lock in lower prices,” says Sarah Jankowski, director of user growth and integrated marketing at Shopkick. WHERE TO FIND DEALS: Dick’s Sporting Goods, Lululemon,

Peloton POTENTIAL SAVINGS: 30 to 40 percent off COOKWARE As graduation season winds down and wedding season ramps up, retailers offer deals on classic gifts for folks setting up a new

kitchen such as pots and pans, serving trays and cooking utensils. That makes this a great time to stock up on gifts for coming events, or to upgrade your own kitchen supplies. WHERE TO FIND

DEALS: Le Creuset, Macy’s, Sur La Table POTENTIAL SAVINGS: 20 to 30 percent off LINGERIE Victoria’s Secret typically runs its semiannual sale this month. It’s a great opportunity to pick up

not only bras and panties but also pajamas and swimsuits. Because the sale is high-profile, competitors may also drop their prices on similar items to capitalize on the buzz. “If there’s

another brand in that space that you’re interested in, check them out to see if they’re trying to compete,” Ramhold says. WHERE TO FIND DEALS: Victoria’s Secret, Frederick’s of Hollywood,

Lane Bryant POTENTIAL SAVINGS: Up to 60 percent off