Cyber Monday


Cyber Monday is a marketing term for e-commerce transactions made on the Monday following Thanksgiving in the United States. Ellen Davis of the National Retail Federation debuted the concept twenty years ago, on November 28, 2005. Today is the online equivalent of Black Friday, the big in-store shopping day, the day after Thanksgiving. The cyber event provides an opportunity for smaller retailers to compete with larger companies.


The strategy has been increasingly successful.


When I opened my Email this AM, it virtually exploded with Cyber Monday sales and deals. Among my three emails: personal, Author, and miscellaneous, I received almost one hundred “special” offers.

Did the advertisements influence my buying activity? Yes and No. I did make some purchases, which included sales. But, since I do a lot of my shopping online, I gamed the system. I researched sites for items of interest ahead of time, bookmarked the links, and returned to the websites today in search of bargains. BINGO, 9 of 10 searches resulted in savings on my gifts. In the case of the one without a price reduction, I simply looked for similar things, and found several less expensive options.



We avoid last-minute shopping. Throughout the year, if we see something that catches our eye, especially in a small business, as the perfect present for a friend or family member, we make our purchase at that time. It allows us to beat the rush and to tailor our gift-giving to more meaningful options.


When do you do most of your Christmas shopping? Do you shop year-round, during the Thanksgiving period, or on December 24?

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