Origins of Black Friday
The term “Black Friday” originated in 1950s Philadelphia, where police used it to describe the chaotic day after Thanksgiving. Suburban shoppers and tourists flocked to the city for the Army-Navy football game, leading to traffic jams, overcrowded stores, and even incidents of shoplifting.
By the 1980s, retailers redefined the term with a positive spin, symbolizing the point when stores moved from being “in the red” (loss-making) to “in the black” (profitable), thanks to soaring sales. Fast forward to today, Black Friday has become a global shopping phenomenon.
In 2024, Black Friday fell on November 29, marking the beginning of a massive shopping spree both in stores and online.
The Rise of Cyber Monday
Cyber Monday was coined in a 2005 press release by Shop.org, a division of the National Retail Federation (NRF). It highlighted a surprising trend: the Monday following Thanksgiving consistently saw a surge in online shopping.
This year, Cyber Monday takes place on December 2, continuing the shopping excitement from the weekend.
Black Friday vs Cyber Monday: What Sets Them Apart?
Traditionally, Black Friday catered to large brick-and-mortar retailers, while Cyber Monday provided online-only businesses a platform to offer exclusive deals. Over time, the lines have blurred, with both days featuring deals from major e-commerce giants and physical stores.
Now, the four days from Thanksgiving to Cyber Monday have become a seamless shopping marathon. Retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Target run overlapping promotions during this period, making it challenging to pinpoint which day offers the best discounts.
Black Friday Discounts in India
This year, Amazon launched its first-ever Black Friday sale in India, offering up to 75% off on electronics. Special perks included:
- 5% cashback for Prime members using Amazon co-branded credit cards.
- 3% cashback for non-Prime members.
The sale extends through Cyber Monday and ends on December 2, 2024.
Other retailers, such as Flipkart, Ajio, and Vijay Sales, also participated in Black Friday, offering discounts across categories. However, most of their Black Friday deals wrapped up by December 1.
Meanwhile, platforms like Tata Neu, Reliance Digital, Amazon, and Tata Cliq have extended some Black Friday discounts into Cyber Monday, ensuring Indian shoppers don’t miss out on additional savings.
Shopping Trends in 2024
This year, the Cyber Week shopping period (Thanksgiving to Cyber Monday) is expected to hit a record-breaking $40.6 billion in online sales globally, a 7% increase compared to 2023.
- Cyber Monday is projected to generate $13.2 billion in online revenue, surpassing Black Friday’s $10.8 billion.
- In India, major e-commerce platforms are leveraging the growing popularity of these global events to boost their sales.
Which Day Offers Better Deals?
For Indian shoppers, Black Friday is emerging as the day for blockbuster discounts, particularly on electronics and apparel. However, Cyber Monday could bring exclusive online deals as retailers look to clear remaining stock.
If you’re shopping in India, keeping an eye on both days—and their overlapping sales—can help you score the best deals. With Amazon’s extended Black Friday sale and other platforms hinting at Cyber Monday offers, there’s no shortage of opportunities to save big this year.
