Cyber Monday

Cyber Monday - Saturday, November 30, 2024

Special Interest Shopping

What is Cyber Monday

Cyber Monday is celebrated the Monday after Thanksgiving weekend. Established in 2005, Cyber Monday is the Internet’s answer to brick-and-mortar holiday shopping. Unlike Black Friday, Cyber Monday gives you the chance to shop those amazing Black Friday deals from the comfort of your couch or office.

History of Cyber Monday

Cyber Monday was invented in 2005 by Ellen Davis, the president of the National Retail Foundation. Data had shown that the Monday after Thanksgiving was experiencing higher than usual traffic for retail shopping while individuals were at work. Analysts were led to believe that’s because individuals had spent the weekend window shopping among the madness of Black Friday and, rather than use the typically slower residential internet speeds, waited until Monday when they were bored at work to buy what they liked over the weekend. 
 
Thus, Cyber Monday was created as a way for brands to leverage two things: Workplace boredom and the convenience of shopping online versus in store during the Wild West of Black Friday. 
 
Since then, Cyber Monday has steadily grown as one of the major shopping days of the year. With the likes of Amazon and increasingly affordable high-speed internet, shopping online has become more woven into the fabrics of American lives. Nearly everything can be bought and sold with about one click or two. 
 
Additionally, as the holiday grew, so too did the day. Now, Cyber Monday sales may start the Monday before Cyber Monday (making it Cyber Week?). The nomenclature is still unknown. But what we do know is that Cyber Monday is much bigger now than just an ahead of its time insight in 2005

Who doesn’t love shopping? More and more people these days are switching from the hassle of going outside to shop in the busy and crowded stores to the convenience of online shopping, where mail trucks can deliver their products right to their door.

The rise of the internet is growing significantly, and because more and more companies are producing an online presence, Cyber Monday becomes a day when profits soar and consumers get their spending gig going. So strap into your comfy computer chairs and let’s learn about Cyber Monday!

History of Cyber Monday

Cyber Monday was originally conceived by Ellen Davis, senior vice president of the National Retail Federation, and was first used in the e-commerce community during the 2005 holiday season. This holiday was based on research conducted by the NRF, which stated that one of the biggest shopping days of the year was the Monday after Thanksgiving.

Many people who would go out and window shop during Thanksgiving would then connect to their internet and buy what they want. However, because the internet was slow during that time, Cyber Monday grew slowly in popularity, by 26 percent each year according to the Reader’s Digest.

It wasn’t until 2014 when online retailers earned over $2 billion in profits that Cyber Monday became one of the biggest shopping holidays in the United States. Many other countries since then participate in Cyber Monday, and according to Adobe Digital Insights, Cyber Monday exceeded greatly by $3.45 billion in profits, raising the bar for retailers significantly.

Although it isn’t the biggest profitable holiday, as Single’s Day in China takes the cake at $14.3 billion in 24 hours, Cyber Monday is exceedingly popular among Americans as one of the best days to shop online and save lots of money, even though you’re spending it.

How to celebrate Cyber Monday

Check out your favorite stores online and buy while the sales are hot! Subscribe to your favorite store for email updates on sales so you can be prepared for the big day when your favorite items are limited but cheap in price. Use the hashtag #CyberMonday on social media as a way to ramp up your excitement and convince your friends to join the fun.

Also, download your favorite store apps, because buying online is as easy as pie, even when you don’t have a computer. Maybe even go to your library’s computer if you’re desperate for those sales. Don’t forget your wallet.

Cyber Monday timeline

2018

Record Highs

In 2018, nearly $8 billion was spent on Cyber Monday, up almost twenty percent from the year before and a record high for the holiday. Not too shabby for a thirteen-year-old holiday.  

2005

A Name is Given

Now that it has a name, it's a thing. Before that, it was just a trend. But in 2005 the world was given the term Cyber Monday and thus Cyber Monday became a thing the world would know. 

2003

White Wednesday

White Wednesday crawled so Cyber Monday could walk. 1800Flowers.com tried to leverage the holiday shopping season by taking the Wednesday before Thanksgiving as a deal day. But, unfortunately, the holiday didn't catch as too many individuals were stuck in line at the airport before smartphones kept us entertained. 

Cyber Monday FAQs

Is Amazon going to have Cyber Monday deals?

That’s likely a safe bet. Inevitably, Amazon will have Cyber Monday deals. 
 

Are Black Friday deals better than Cyber Monday?

That varies based on the retailer and the item. Some products may have better deals online than in store, and vice versa. 
 

What store has the best Cyber Monday deals?

Amazon typically has rather popular deals, as well as other bigger retailers such as Best Buy. 
 

How long is Cyber Monday?

Cyber Monday lasts anywhere from 24 hours to seven days. 
 

Cyber Monday Activities

  1. Instead of a lunch break, take a shop break

    The downside of Cyber Monday is that, well, it's on a Monday. Most of us have to work. But who needs a lunch break? On Cyber Monday, take a shop break! Eating can wait.

  2. Indulge your inner Internet shopaholic

    It's okay to let your freak flag fly once a year. If you secretly love Internet shopping but willfully don't let yourself indulge, Cyber Monday is the one day you can browse the Internet all day and feel not a shred of guilt.

  3. Crowdsource website recommendations

    Since you're browsing the Internet on Cyber Monday, you're probably already on Facebook. Expand your shopping horizons by asking your Facebook friends to share their favorite e-commerce websites. Then prepare to be led down a pleasurable rabbit hole of Internet shopping paradise.

Why We Love Cyber Monday

  1. It gives us an excuse to be anti-social

    After the madness of Thanksgiving and Black Friday, most of us just want some alone time. Cyber Monday gives us the respite we need. The whole universe of Internet shopping is at our fingertips, and we don't have to interact with a single human being to buy what we want!

  2. We don't have to get dressed

    When it comes to Internet shopping, it's all about you. Nobody to please, nowhere to go—shoes and even clothes are optional. If you want to snuggle up on the couch in nothing but your boxers, nobody can stop you.

  3. Cyber Monday has deals you won't find on Black Friday

    Cyber Monday deals are typically offered by smaller retailers and focus more heavily on fashion than technology. On average, there are 45% more clothing deals and 50% more shoe deals on Cyber Monday than on Black Friday.

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