With Black Friday coming up in no time, you probably wonder what is coming for us after last year’s historic online sales!

Since the covid pandemic, long lines and crowded shopping centers were not an option, making way for online shopping and on-demand delivery to hit records.

In 2020, consumers in the US spent an average of 6.3 million dollars per minute online during last year’s Black Friday. Smartphone purchases increased by 25.3% compared to the year before.

We can expect many more surprises from this year’s sales statistics. However, one thing is for sure, online shopping and on-demand delivery will remain record high.

Before the season kicks off, it is good to be prepared and have the right system in place for your business.

Let’s get into some of the top predictions for the upcoming Black Friday weekend!

Extended Black Friday

Similar to the year before, Black Friday will not only last one day, as it did in previous years. Sellers are now trying to turn the weekend into a season, combining it with extended Thanksgiving Sales, Cyber Monday, and Christmas shopping.

Large chains including Walmart, Home Depot, and Target kicked off their Black Friday presales in October and throughout November, combining it with advertising for Black Friday’s special offers.

According to blackfriday.com, consumers are concerned with their deliveries not being executed on time, which encourages them to buy earlier and after the Black Friday weekend, when the traffic is not at its highest.

If you are starting your business during this time, optimize your website and app for the Black Friday sales ahead of time, and continue implementing discount campaigns afterward.

This will allow new customers to test out your products and services at an attractive price.

Sellers will focus on optimizing their supply chain.

Last year, predictions showed that there would be a significant drop in sales amid the economic uncertainty.

However, those statistics couldn’t be more wrong. The numbers showed that the spending in 2020 equaled $14.3 billion over the Black Friday weekend, as opposed to $11.9 billion in 2019.

Retailers were caught by surprise when their online shops started booming overnight.

This instant rise in sales caused a lot of disturbances and bottlenecks throughout the supply chains and complaints from customers regarding late or incomplete orders.

As a result, many customers are now worried their orders would not arrive on time or in the expected condition.

If you are an online seller, this is an excellent opportunity to stand out by using the correct order management software, providing exceptional online service, and ensuring timely deliveries.

Having a system that controls your orders will help you maintain clarity of all the incoming, pending, and completed orders. Having a full overview of the ordering process makes you less likely to make mistakes and be sure to deliver any on-demand product or service seamlessly.

Additionally, incorporating the feature of real-time communication and follow-up notifications after the order increases your credibility and maintains engagement throughout the whole customer journey.

What are the predicted spending patterns for 2021?

This year, blackfriday.com predicted that online Black Friday weekend sales would grow about 20% year over year and hit $17 billion. The trend of online over stationery shopping is going to continue.
Gift cards and online discounts will replace the yearly in-store doorbusters.

The website and app campaigns will be the predominant way for customers to take advantage of the sales both online and in-store. Cyber Monday is going to be the second chance to purchase for those who missed Black Friday deals.

The purchases of electronics will continue to be on the rise, including TVs, smartphones, and games.

However, this list will also expand to groceries, food, cosmetics, alcohol, and entertainment. Last year, online grocery shopping on Black Friday surged 397% compared with October daily averages.

To sum up

This year’s Black Friday will continue surprising us after last year’s drastic change in consumer behavior.
However, the trends that we can expect to continue to include the transition to online shopping from in-store purchases and for customers to prioritize convenience and reliable delivery over anything else.

The users will look at deals and discounts on Black Friday day and on the weeks prior, Thanksgiving, and weeks leading up to Christmas.

Since customers are worried about their products being delivered in time, sellers should focus on having their websites and apps set up and optimized prior to Black Friday to manage the demand accordingly and avoid bottlenecks and disruptions during the delivery process.