e-commerce: Holiday Season Over the Years

What is Black Friday?

Black Friday, the Friday after Thanksgiving, is a popular time for consumers to do their Christmas shopping because of generous discounts. Popular items that go on sale during Black Friday include electronics, toys, home furnishings, and apparel.

How did Black Friday gain popularity over the years?

It’s all about holiday presents: “Black Friday” became synonymous with low prices and hordes of shoppers, it was initially used to describe streets filled with shoppers looking for deals after Thanksgiving. This was back in the early 1960s in Philadelphia. The term itself goes back to almost 100 years prior. In 1869, it was used to refer to the stock market's collapse. 

According to research by NRF*, in 2021 shoppers spent an average of $301.27 on holiday-related items, such as presents, decorations, clothes, and toys during the BFCM event. Like in previous years, the bulk ($215.40) of that sum was spent on gifts.

Black Friday trends in the past 2 years?

The pandemic impacted every aspect of life, including retail. It caused e-commerce growth to skyrocket as more people shopped from the safety and comfort of their homes. Customers have changed their shopping habits even after lockdowns and quarantines, and several new patterns have emerged, including:

Mobile over desktop 

Mobile continues to outperform desktop as the preferred platform for product discovery and browsing in terms of online traffic, orders, and revenue. Mobile devices accounted for 69% of online product surf and search, while laptops or desktops accounted for 31%. Still, desktop conversion rates are higher than mobile ones, mirroring the 2020 numbers of 4% vs. 2%.

Supply chain challenges

Digital shelves were not as fully stocked as in past years due to early and ongoing supply chain issues, giving consumers fewer gift alternatives. Compared to Cyber Weeks in the past few years, the number of product catalogues decreased by 5% worldwide.

First-time buyers 

Across all sectors, consumers tried new brands for the first time, which is a common holiday behaviour as buyers try new products with all the discounts. Consumer Electronics has the highest percentage of first-time purchasers (89%), denoting that many shoppers are attracted by persuasive deals on costly products like smart TVs and do not normally become repeat customers.

Best performing items during Black Friday: 

1. Electronic Devices

Tech products have been some of the hottest Black Friday buys over the last couple of decades.

 Laptops, tablets, smartwatches, smartphones, gaming monitors, and fitness trackers are among the many electronic devices you can feature in your Black Friday sale.

Accessories for electronic devices, such as phone cases, USB chargers, HDMI cords, portable battery chargers, and audio equipment are also hot this holiday season.

 2. Clothes

As the seasons change, many people look to buy new clothes. Consider offering deals on clothes for men, women, and children in your Black Friday sale.

 Party attire, winter gear, and holiday-themed loungewear are all popular options.

 3. Home Decor

Home decor is another hot buy this Black Friday. From holiday-specific decorations to everyday pieces to accentuate the home, you really can’t go wrong.

 Some of our top picks for home decor items include throw pillows, blankets, wall art, clocks, frames, and area rugs.

4. Jewellery

Jewellery is a timeless gift with so many different styles and types. Consider stocking earrings, rings, necklaces, timepieces, and bracelets. If you are looking for a trendy item, consider stocking beaded bracelets.

 5. Games and Entertainment

One of the wonders of the holiday season is coming together with family and friends to celebrate those who are most important in our lives. Bonding over games and other special types of entertainment is a great way to make lasting memories.

 Reseller month on Tradeling 

When you think of Black Friday deals, you might think of stores like Walmart, BestBuy and B2C marketplaces such as Amazon and Noon. However, Black Friday isn’t just for retail stores and platforms. 

Wholesalers can get in on the action as well. Markdown your listings on Tradeling to attract new buyers and get more sales. This is a great way to create a sense of urgency and push your buyers to make a purchase.

Head to our website to learn more about reseller month.