Amazon is planning a spring sale for March 20-25, but not just for Prime

Amazon will be hosting a spring sale next week with discounts on seasonal items, and this one isn’t limited to Prime members.

Amazon said Thursday that the event, which it calls the “Great Spring Sale,” will run for six days, starting March 20, in North America. Unlike the good price of Prime Day sales that usually takes place during the summer, next week’s event will be open to shoppers who don’t pay for a Prime membership. The subscription program costs $139 per year or $14.99 per month in the US, and benefits include free, fast shipping; video streaming; and access to exclusive Prime Day deals.

Spring fashion, fitness products, outdoor furniture, Amazon-branded devices and other “warm-weather essentials” are among the categories that will be discounted, Amazon said. This is the first time Amazon has held such an event in the first quarter.

In recent years, Amazon has added shopping events, including “Prime Big Deal Days” in the fall, a 48-hour “Pet Day” and a beauty-focused sale ahead of the holiday shopping season.

The company is launching its spring event as shoppers battling high inflation remain hungry for discounts. Inflation retreated from its 40-year highs in mid-2022 but remains above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target. Consumer prices rose more than expected last month, rising 3.2 percent in February from a year earlier, the U.S. Labor Department said on Tuesday.

Amazon also faces growing competition from discount retailers Temu and Shein, which are trying to spend on ads to attract American shoppers. Shein offers mostly clothing and accessories at deeply discounted prices. Temu is similar to an online flea market and has seen a boom in popularity due to its low prices and gamified shopping experience.