Black Friday vs Cyber Monday in India: In the 1950s, Philadelphia police used the term “Black Friday” to describe the busy day after Thanksgiving, when the city was crowded with shoppers and tourists for the Army-Navy football game. This caused traffic jams, crowded stores, and even incidents of theft. By the 1980s, retailers embraced the term, reinterpreting it as a positive event when stores moved from “in the red” (losing money) to “in the black” (making a profit) due to the surge in sales.
This year, Black Friday was observed on November 29, 2024, prompting a shopping frenzy both online and in stores. In comparison, Cyber Monday, introduced in a 2005 press release by Shop.org (a branch of the NRF), highlighted the growing trend of increased online sales on the Monday after Thanksgiving. This year, Cyber Monday will fall on December 2, 2024.
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Black Friday vs Cyber Monday in India: Difference
The main difference between Black Friday and Cyber Monday lies in their origins and focus. Black Friday has traditionally benefited large physical retailers, offering in-store discounts and drawing huge crowds to stores. On the other hand, Cyber Monday was created to help smaller, internet-only companies compete by offering exclusive online discounts.
Over time, the four days between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday have evolved into a shopping marathon, with overlapping sales from big retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Target. While many Black Friday deals extend into Cyber Monday, some exclusive discounts are reserved for the latter, focusing more on online shopping.
Which day is best for deals?
In India, Amazon is holding its first-ever Black Friday sale, offering discounts of up to 75% on electronics. Non-Prime members can earn 3% cashback, while Prime members can enjoy an unlimited 5% cashback on purchases made using Amazon’s co-branded credit cards. This discount event runs until December 2 and extends into Cyber Monday.
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Several other retailers like Flipkart, Ajio, Vijay Sales, and others also offered discounts, but their Black Friday sales ended or will end before December 1. While these retailers haven’t yet announced Cyber Monday deals, platforms such as Amazon, Tata Cliq, Reliance Digital, and Tata Neu have extended their Black Friday offers through to Cyber Monday.
Trends in 2024
Online sales during Cyber Week (Thanksgiving to Cyber Monday) are projected to hit a record $40.6 billion this year, marking a 7% increase compared to the previous year. Black Friday’s online sales are expected to reach $10.8 billion, but Cyber Monday is forecast to surpass that with $13.2 billion in sales, continuing the trend of increasing online shopping for the holiday season.
