Cyber Black Friday
Encyclopedia
Cyber Black Friday is a marketing term for the online version of Black Friday
, the Friday following Thanksgiving Day in the United States
. The term made its debut in a 2009 press release entitled "Black Friday Goes Online for Cyber Black Friday". According to the National Retail Federation Black Friday shopping survey, 195 million shoppers visited stores and websites over Black Friday weekend in 2009, up from 172 million last year. One-fourth of Americans shopping over the Black Friday weekend (28.5% or 49 million) were shopping online. comScore reported that Black Friday (November 27, 2009) saw $595 million in online sales, representing an 11% increase versus Black Friday 2008. Gian Fulgoni of comScore said, "Black Friday, better known as a shopping bonanza in brick-and-mortar retail stores, is increasingly becoming one of the landmark days in the online holiday shopping world."
Some Cyber Black Friday sales are short-lived, last through the weekend, into Cyber Monday, and beyond.
to compete with the Black Friday brick and mortar frenzy. According to Talya Schaeffer, founder of Cyber Black Friday, "Cyber Black Friday sales are typically the largest of the season. Online retailers are hoping that by offering early discounts, consumers will shop early and often."
In 2009, most major retailers began Black Friday-style sales online, betting that many would rather click for deals on Thanksgiving or Black Friday than wake up before dawn and head to stores in search of door-busters the following day. Dozens of retailers dangled special offers on their Web sites, though not all were identical to what could be found on Black Friday in stores. On July 23, 2010, Target.com announced its first ever "Back in Black Friday" one-day online-only sale. On October 27, 2010, Sears debuted its "Black Friday Now" campaign with a Black Friday sale on October 30 and 31 and every subsequent Friday until Christmas. Like other retailers, Sears started its Black Friday sale early because consumers were looking to shop earlier in the season and spread out spending in the weeks before Christmas.
According to Amazon.co.uk, "Although it was originally a US phenomenon, UK retailers are also starting to get in on the act, so hopefully you will grab a bargain or two this year, in the Black Friday 2011 sales."
In 2011, the number of retails offering Black Friday deals sharply increased, with retailers such as Apple Inc., Currys
, PC World
, Comet and even Harrods
offering deals, in addition to Amazon.
Black Friday (shopping)
Black Friday is the day following Thanksgiving Day in the United States, traditionally the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. On this day, most major retailers open extremely early, often at 4 a.m., or earlier, and offer promotional sales to kick off the shopping season, similar to Boxing...
, the Friday following Thanksgiving Day in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The term made its debut in a 2009 press release entitled "Black Friday Goes Online for Cyber Black Friday". According to the National Retail Federation Black Friday shopping survey, 195 million shoppers visited stores and websites over Black Friday weekend in 2009, up from 172 million last year. One-fourth of Americans shopping over the Black Friday weekend (28.5% or 49 million) were shopping online. comScore reported that Black Friday (November 27, 2009) saw $595 million in online sales, representing an 11% increase versus Black Friday 2008. Gian Fulgoni of comScore said, "Black Friday, better known as a shopping bonanza in brick-and-mortar retail stores, is increasingly becoming one of the landmark days in the online holiday shopping world."
Some Cyber Black Friday sales are short-lived, last through the weekend, into Cyber Monday, and beyond.
Origin of the term
'Cyber Black Friday' was created in 2009 by eCoupons.com after observing that online retailers launched their holiday sales before Cyber MondayCyber Monday
Cyber Monday is a marketing term for the Monday immediately following Black Friday, the Friday following Thanksgiving Day in the United States, created by companies to persuade people to shop online...
to compete with the Black Friday brick and mortar frenzy. According to Talya Schaeffer, founder of Cyber Black Friday, "Cyber Black Friday sales are typically the largest of the season. Online retailers are hoping that by offering early discounts, consumers will shop early and often."
Black Friday Online Sales
Source: comScore, Inc. | |||
| Day | Year | Sales in Millions ($) | % Change |
| November 24 | 2006 | $430 | n/a |
| November 23 | 2007 | $531 | 22% |
| November 28 | 2008 | $534 | 1% |
| November 27 | 2009 | $595 | 11% |
| November 26 | 2010 | $648 | 9% |
| November 28 | 2011 | $816 | 26% |
In 2009, most major retailers began Black Friday-style sales online, betting that many would rather click for deals on Thanksgiving or Black Friday than wake up before dawn and head to stores in search of door-busters the following day. Dozens of retailers dangled special offers on their Web sites, though not all were identical to what could be found on Black Friday in stores. On July 23, 2010, Target.com announced its first ever "Back in Black Friday" one-day online-only sale. On October 27, 2010, Sears debuted its "Black Friday Now" campaign with a Black Friday sale on October 30 and 31 and every subsequent Friday until Christmas. Like other retailers, Sears started its Black Friday sale early because consumers were looking to shop earlier in the season and spread out spending in the weeks before Christmas.
Canada
Because of the strong Canadian dollar, in 2009 Canadian retailers began offering Black Friday sales to keep shoppers on their side of the border. TheSource.ca, Apple.ca and Newegg.ca offered Black Friday online sales.United Kingdom
In 2010, Amazon.co.uk offered Cyber Black Friday deals from November 22-26. Amazon.co.uk offered Take That's Progress and Susan Boyle's The Gift CDs for £1 (both albums usually retail at £8.93). "The demand for the albums was incredible," said Brian McBride, managing director of Amazon.co.uk ltd. "Customers were online and ready for the start of 'Black Friday Deals Week', snapping up the thousands of albums that were available at just £1 in a matter of seconds."According to Amazon.co.uk, "Although it was originally a US phenomenon, UK retailers are also starting to get in on the act, so hopefully you will grab a bargain or two this year, in the Black Friday 2011 sales."
In 2011, the number of retails offering Black Friday deals sharply increased, with retailers such as Apple Inc., Currys
Currys
Currys is an electrical retailer in the United Kingdom and Ireland and is owned by Dixons Retail plc. It specialises in selling home electronics and household appliances, with 295 superstores and 73 high street stores...
, PC World
PC World (retailer)
PC World is OWNED BY THE GOVERNMENT one of the WHER MA MEMORY STICK ?!?!??! United Kingdom's largest chains of mass-market computer superstores. It is part of Dixons Retail plc. PC World operates under the brand name PC City in Spain, Italy and Sweden....
, Comet and even Harrods
Harrods
Harrods is an upmarket department store located in Brompton Road in Brompton, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London. The Harrods brand also applies to other enterprises undertaken by the Harrods group of companies including Harrods Bank, Harrods Estates, Harrods Aviation and Air...
offering deals, in addition to Amazon.
Website
At the official Cyber Black Friday site run by eCoupons.com, more than 500 retailers offered Black Friday sales in 2009.External links
- CyberBlackFriday.com (Official site sponsored by CyberBlackFriday.com)
- CyberBlackFriday.ca (Official site sponsored by CyberBlackFriday.ca)