Commentary
Cyber Monday Catching Black Friday
- by Jack Loechner , Staff Writer @mp_research, November 28, 2005
According to the Shop.org/BizRate eHoliday Mood Study 2005, 77 percent of online retailers said that their sales increased substantially last year on the Monday after Thanksgiving, a trend that is driving serious online discounts and promotions on Cyber Monday this year.
While traditional retailers are monitoring store traffic and sales on Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving), online retailers have set their sights on Cyber Monday, the Monday after Thanksgiving, which is quickly becoming one of the biggest online shopping days of the year. For the past few years, online retailers have found that sales on the Monday after Thanksgiving have been creeping higher, giving retailers an additional reason to be jolly during the ceremonial kickoff to the holiday season.
Scott Silverman, Executive Director of Shop.org, said "On Cyber Monday, consumers set their sights on surfing for holiday gifts and shopping online. This year, online retailers will be capitalizing on the increased traffic by offering special promotions and discounts."
Experts believe that an increase in web traffic could stem from the fact that consumers may have faster or more secure Internet connections at work and choose to shop there, or that they were unable to finish all of their shopping over the Thanksgiving weekend. Analysts also expect many consumers to shop on Cyber Monday from home after work or when their children are sleeping. Regardless of the reason or the time of day, 43 percent of online retailers plan to offer special promotions and discounts on Cyber Monday, according to an eHoliday Mood Study, Deals will range from free shipping to gifts with purchase to percentages off.
BIGresearch found that 37% of consumers said they will use Internet access at work to browse or buy gifts online this holiday season. The survey found that more than half of young adults 18-24 (51%) and nearly half of those 25-34 (49%) will be shopping online during work hours. The survey also found that men (42%) are more likely than women (32%) to shop at the office.
2005 Consumer Shopping at Work by Gender & Income | |||||
"This holiday season, have you or will you use the Internet access at work as an opportunity to browse or shop for gifts online?" | |||||
| All | Male | Female | $50K+ | <$50K |
Yes | 36.5% | 41.6% | 31.8% | 46.9% | 30.1% |
No | 45.2% | 41.3% | 48.8% | 39.8% | 48.5% |
No Web access at work | 18.3% | 17.0% | 19.4% | 13.3% | 21.4% |
Source: BIGresearch/Shop.org, November 2005 | |||||
Please visit here for more information from the National Retail Federation.
Jack Loechner is the Editor of The Center for Media Research's daily Research Brief. You can reach him at jack@mediapost.com.