Opinions on Black Friday and Cyber Monday: A Mixed Bag

Black Friday and Cyber Monday have become integral to the holiday shopping season, but opinions on these twin shopping events vary widely. As an SEO expert, I explore these diverse perspectives and provide insight into consumer behavior and attitudes.

Positive Perspectives on Black Friday

Many shoppers view Black Friday as a fantastic opportunity to snag amazing deals on a wide range of products. Retailers often offer significant discounts to attract customers, and specialized sites like MSkeydeals provide great offers throughout the season. These deals allow savvy shoppers to save big on their purchases and prepare for the upcoming holiday season.

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Negative Perspectives on Black Friday

Not everyone shares the same enthusiasm for Black Friday. Some people find it more of a day to encourage spending without providing any meaningful benefit. The day after Thanksgiving, which typically falls on Black Friday, is not a public holiday in many places. In my 14 years of employment, only one company I worked for granted the day off, and this occurred rarely.

Perceived overcrowding and heavy traffic deter many from shopping on Black Friday. One individual mentioned that they swore never to shop on Black Friday after a single experience in their teenage years, finding the stores too crowded and chaotic. Therefore, they prefer to shop on a mid-week day instead.

Historical Context and Evolution

Black Friday originally emerged due to many employees having the day after Thanksgiving off. It became a day for shoppers to visit holiday-lit stores and take advantage of discounts. The term "Black Friday" comes from the belief that it marks the point when retailers move from operating at a loss (in the red) to profitability (in the black).

The rise of e-commerce added Cyber Monday to the shopping mix, making it possible for customers to shop online at the same time as in-store purchases. Today, much of the excitement around these days comes from emails and online promotions.

Shopper Intentions and Attitudes

To better understand consumer behavior, we conducted a survey at our recent Peak Connect conference with Toluna. The survey revealed that the majority of respondents (65%) planned to start buying Christmas gifts before the Black Friday period, with some starting as early as mid-November or even before November.

A small percentage (4%) intended to start buying gifts during the Black Friday week, and less than 1% planned to start on the day itself. The remaining respondents had not decided when to start shopping or did not remember.

Attitudes toward Black Friday and Cyber Monday showed a nuanced response. 24.5% of those surveyed either hated or disliked these events, while 31.5% loved or liked them. The majority (44%) had no strong feelings either way. Comparing this to a survey from 2016, there appears to be a slight shift in attitudes, with more people experiencing fatigue from the marketing noise surrounding these events.

Conclusion

Black Friday and Cyber Monday remain significant events in the holiday shopping season, but opinions vary widely. While some appreciate the deals and opportunities to save money, others find the crowds and noise overwhelming. Understanding these differences can help retailers and consumers alike make more informed decisions during the holiday season.