November is here, officially marking the beginning of the holiday season. And for shoppers and retailers around the world, it marks one of the most important times of the year, and it’s all because of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Originally a U.S. tradition, these annual sales events have instantly grown into a global phenomenon. According to Adobe Analytics, consumers generated a whooping 10.1 billion AUD ($7.4 billion USD) in sales during Black Friday 2019. This year Black Friday sales are expected to be bigger than ever before and more online-focused – a trend that can be attributed to the fact that shoppers have been forced to transition to online shopping due to the Covid-19 pandemic. These sales events have taken time to really take off in Australia as they have in the U.S. and U.K. But this could be the year that Australia sees a significant boost in transactions over this period.
So what exactly are Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and what can Australian shoppers expect from this year’s sales?
Black Friday vs. Cyber Monday.
These two sales events were founded at entirely different times for entirely different purposes. Black Friday initially began in the U.S. and was intended to signify the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. The event is synonymous with riot-level crowds flocking retail stores in an attempt to secure the best pre-Christmas discount. Black Friday was set to occur on the Friday after Thanksgiving and, in particular, the fourth Friday of November. Accordingly, this year the Black Friday event will happen on November 27th. Cyber Monday, on the other hand, was initiated in 2005 as a way of encouraging people to shift their shopping online. Essentially, this event was the original online shopping extravaganza. It was set to occur on Monday succeeding Black Friday, meaning this year it will take place on Monday, November 30th.
Over the years, the line differentiating these two sales events has grown increasingly blurred. Traditionally, Black Friday was meant to occur mostly in-store, while Cyber Monday was focused more on online sales. However, today retailers also offer a fair share of online bargains under Black Friday sales, and some physical stores run Cyber Monday sales as well. While there are still a couple of days left until these highly anticipated sales events, most retailers are already rolling out massive deals. So, if you haven’t created your holiday shopping list yet, now might be the time to do that.
Does Black Friday and Cyber Monday Matter in Australia?
Historically, Boxing Day was Australia’s biggest shopping day. Fortunately, more and more Australian retailers have embraced the American tradition of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Aussie shoppers have also recognized the significance of these sales events, which they now value for one primary reason: savings. According to Finder, 71% of Australians (roughly 13.8 million Aussies) plan on taking advantage of the Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals.
What to Expect
It’s hard to tell exactly what types of deals retailers will be offering during these sales events. But if past Black Fridays are any indication, shoppers can expect massive discounts on a range of products. With the launch of the Sony PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, it follows that the outgoing PS4 and Xbox one will be available at a discount. So if you are an avid gamer but have never owned your own gaming console, 2020 might be the year you are finally able to afford one. Shoppers can also expect huge bargains on various smartphones. Refurbished iPhone 11 are likely to see some jaw-dropping price drops at Phonebot. Wireless headphones, Bluetooth speakers, and 4K TVs are almost guaranteed to be on discount. If you are looking to upgrade or switch your mobile and broadband plan, the major telecom companies like Vodaphone and Aussie Broadband might be offering some pretty sweet discounts during the Black Friday Sales just as they did last year.
Every major brand is expected to have plenty of solid offerings. Therefore, you should keep an eye on retailers like Amazon, eBay, JB Hi-Fi, and Harvey Norman. Most of them are already offering early Black Friday deals. Gymshark is offering up to 30 percent off on selected items. Amazon Australia is also offering some pretty great deals on some items like the Samsung Galaxy S20. If you wish to make your Black Friday and Cyber Monday experience even better, visit your favourite stores and check whether they have dropped their Black Friday deals early. In this way, you will know what to expect come the big sales weekend. Catch, for instance, is offering its customers a sneak peek into their Black Friday sales. Shoppers can get decent price cuts on brands like Calvin Klein, TEAC, Blaupunkt, and DVSport. Another thing you should watch out for is whether your store offers members-only deals. For example, in 2019, eBay offered members-only deals for some of their items like the Google Home Minis and AirPods. You can probably expect the same from eBay this year.
Wrapping Up
As with anything you do, it helps to be organized. With the huge sales weekend quickly approaching, make a point of sitting down and coming up with a list of things you need. This will save you a great deal of time when shopping and minimize the chances of impulse buying. Compare offers on different sites to find the best deals for the items you wish to buy. Retailers tend to start the sales period at different times. Therefore, double-check when your favourite store plans to begin the sales period, or you might be too late to seize the best deals. In addition, have your credit card information ready for a speedy checkout process and to ensure you do not miss out on any hot deals. There is nothing sadder than missing out on a good deal by a second just because you misplaced your purse. With that said, may you have yourself a merry little Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping.
