Cyber five (five days from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday) yielded heavy sales in 2024. Black Friday vs Cyber Monday are the two hottest selling days for merchants worldwide. Buyers wait specifically for these sales to arrive so that they can hit add-to-cart and buy their favorite items on sale!
Some of the top highlights from Black Friday and Cyber Monday are as follows:
- Online spending over the holiday season is at an all-time high, according to Adobe Analytics statistics, with Cyber Monday up 7.3% YoY to $13.3 billion and Cyber Week rising 8.2% YoY to $41.1 billion.
- Cyber Monday saw an all-time high of 57% of online transactions through mobile devices, representing $7.6 billion in online spending, a 13.3% increase. YoY
- Online shopping is being impacted by generative AI-powered chatbots; on Cyber Monday, retail site traffic increased 1,950% over the previous year.
Black Friday Vs Cyber Monday: Which is Better?
In the battle of Black Friday vs Cyber Monday, the sales have proven to be better for the latter as Black Friday was mainly for brick-and-mortar cases. Many buyers often get confused about whether they should get the items on Black Friday or Cyber Monday. The best decision is to get the item that is available on the spot as there is no major difference between the above-mentioned sales.
According to Adobe Analytics, U.S. customers spent $41.1 billion online during Cyber Five 2024, up 8.2% from $38 billion the previous year. Consumers spent $131.5 billion online from November 1 to Cyber Monday (December 2). This represents a 9% increase over 2023 levels.
Cyber Monday: Let’s talk about the record it set
Among Cyber Five, Cyber Monday has been the biggest online shopping day. Speaking of the sales, as compared to 2023, Cyber Monday sales in the U.S. this year (2024) for the day reached up to $13.3 billion i.e., 7.3% higher compared to 2024. Moreover, the peak hours during the sales were 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. EST. According to Adobe, Cyber Monday shoppers spent $15.8 million online every minute.
The items that sold soaring were toys. Another report by Adobe says that the toys sales on Cyber Monday were 680% higher than on an average day in October this year to measure that impact of the holiday season. The Cyber Monday sales performance for personal care products was 530% compared to an average October day. By the same measure, online jewelry sales were up 478%, appliances sales were around 464%, electronics gained 452%, and apparel sales increased 392%.
AI Development
Amidst the Cyber Five, a significant development to name is AI chatbots i.e., ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and more. The impact of AI on eCommerce sales led to increases in sales to whopping 1950% on Cyber Monday as compared to 2023.
Affiliates and Partners
One of the most selling and popular marketing strategies is Affiliates and Partners. Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales also spike through the influencers, affiliates and partnership programs. According to a survey by Adobe, 20. 3% of Cyber Monday sales represented “affiliates and partners”.
Adobe discovered that consumers spent a record $991.2 million on Cyber Monday utilizing buy-now, pay-later, up 5.5% year on year. The majority (75.2%) of the BNPL transactions took place on mobile devices.
Thanksgiving, Black Friday
This goes without saying Cyber Monday was record-setting with sales off the charts. With Thanksgiving (Nov 28) and Black Friday (Nov 29) the sales were far more than last year. According to Adobe, Thanksgiving online sales reached up to $6.1bn, and that makes 10.2% more than last year 2023.
With thanksgiving, the early discounts were enough for the consumers to hit the buy button rather than waiting for Cyber Monday. The shopper took great advantage of the last call for sales i.e., Cyber Monday.
The lead analyst of Adobe also says that the 2024 holiday season is way faster and profiting than 2023. Online sales in 2024 holiday season (Nov. 1 through Dec. 31) are expected to reach $240.8 billion, up 8.4% from $222.1 billion in 2023.
Another estimation by the National Retail ration (NRF) puts out a record 197 million Americans who shopped online and offline during the Cyber Five/Cyber Week. NFR says that it surpassed their earlier estimates of 183.4 million. Moreover, the online shoppers totaled 124.3 million that is less than 134.2 million in 2023. Whereas 126 million buyers shopped in-store that increased from 121.4 million in 2023.
What trends to look out for in Black Friday vs Cyber Monday for 2025?
Every year the competition for eCommerce merchants grows. In 2025, the sales are expected to grow even more and that translates to being a smart merchant in 2025 to generate more sales. The trends to look out for in Black Friday vs Cyber Monday for 2025 are focusing more on video content, offering personalized products (not the same boring content, you have to figure out), focusing more on micro purchasing moments, giving flexible payment options, and providing easy + simplified shopping options.
Let’s take a look at the trends briefly.
Video Content
It is 2025 and video content is giving more reach, engagement, and exposure to the brands as well as target audience.
In order to reach out to your customers effectively, make sure that you make videos, use user-generated content (UGC), and use proper video campaigns to let shoppers know about your products.
Offer Personalized Products
This is another surging trend in the black Friday vs Cyber Monday sales. To capture the leads and customers more effectively, make sure that you give full-scale personalization. It is not about adding their names to products, rather it is about fulfilling what they want to get tailored. According to a report by McKinsey Insights, 80% of loyal customers prefer shopping from brands that give option for tailored choices and personalized experiences.
Micro Purchasing Moments
Micro purchasing moments in digital commerce are extremely critical. Building touchpoints and understanding your customer journey is integral to successful eCommerce business. Micro purchasing moments are brief, often impulsive, decision-making instances where consumers make small, low-cost purchases, typically facilitated by convenience and accessibility. These moments are driven by a combination of factors such as emotional triggers, seamless technology, and immediate gratification.
By understanding your customers, you can target the micro-purchasing moments in your customers that can drive sales and increase ROI. In 20245, Black Friday vs Cyber Monday, this trend would play an extremely important role enabling merchants to drive traffic and convert them into customers.
Flexible Payment Options
Providing your customers with ease while they checkout is extremely important. Many buyers keep limited payment options which puts shoppers to thoughts for purchasing. According to a report by Mordor Intelligence, the third-party payment market is expected to almost double from $62.5 billion in 2024.
You must offer multiple payment options so that customers can complete the checkout process seamlessly. If your target audience is international, make sure that you have all the payment methods that give them easy access to buy from your website.
Providing Easy and Simplified Shipping Options
Another key factor in the Black Friday vs Cyber Monday trend is providing easy shipping options. You need to make sure that you provide clear shipping information while finding ways to make it faster.
Conclusion
Black Friday vs Cyber Monday have a great potential for the sellers to scale. By targeting the right approaches and following trends, one can scale their eCommerce business seamlessly. If you are a merchant, make sure that you are not only good with trends but also with inside operations so that all keeps running smoothly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can integrations help during Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales?
Integrations ensure your eCommerce operations run smoothly by syncing inventory, automating promotions, and optimizing checkout processes. They reduce errors, improve customer experience, and help you keep up with high sales volumes seamlessly.
How does Bizmia support businesses in scaling during peak sales events?
Bizmia helps businesses prepare for Black Friday and Cyber Monday by streamlining processes like real-time inventory updates, personalized marketing, and automated order management. We focus on strategies that boost conversions and ensure sustainable growth beyond the sales season.
What should businesses prioritize for Black Friday vs Cyber Monday?
For Black Friday, focus on physical product promotions and store-based deals, while Cyber Monday is perfect for digital products and exclusive online offers. Integrating tools that handle both types of traffic ensures a consistent customer experience and maximized revenue.