What Will Happen on Cyber Monday, 2008?
Posted on 06. Oct, 2008 by shopzilla in Cyber Monday
Dismal economy. Slipping dow jones. Rising foreclosure and unemployment rates. These buzz words paint a not-so-pretty picture for the 2008 holiday shopping season. Should we bury Black Friday? Will we ever feel the thrill of searching for Cyber Monday Specials again? As an avid Cyber Monday shopper, I predict people will scour the net for Cyber Monday Specials like never before. But don’t just take my word for it. Let’s look at what experts predict for the 2008 shopping season.
2008 Holiday Shopping Season, In General
This article from the Jutia Group predicts a dismal holiday shopping season.
“The American consumer faces a challenging market environment as the labor markets continue to weaken and real incomes decline. Inflation continues to boost the cost of household staples such as food and fuel and domestic budgets are stretched thin.”
My predictions: Yikes. Every time I read about the economy, I feel like the apocalypse is approaching. But what’s bad for retailers is actually good news for consumers. In order to reach new customers, retailers will offer better Black Friday deals and Cyber Monday specials than ever before. You can save hundreds simply by shopping on the right days. Budget shoppers won’t be the only ones to take advantage of the savings this year. Shoppers that avoided the mall on Black Friday like the plague will now arrive promptly to its doors at 5:00 a.m. I also predict that people will give more practical gifts. Consider yourself warned: this year, Grandma might give you a toolset instead of that Burberry scarf you were drooling over.
Will November 28, 2008 Be the Darkest Black Friday in History?
Josh Smith interviewed Black Friday expert Dan de Grandpre in this recent article from Wallet Pop. Despite the dwindling dow, the writer predicts that Black Friday has a sunny outlook, with partly cloudy skies and a slight chance of rain.
“Despite the current state of the economy, the outlook for Black Friday is still good, and Dan predicts that we’ll see low low prices on all kinds of consumer goods from computer equipment and HDTV’s to power tools this year. Black Friday has come a long way from the first time I stood in line many years ago and it seems that every year a new store or industry hops into the retail smorgasbord with this year being no different.”
My predictions: Black Friday will stay strong this year, but Cyber Monday could surpass the retail holiday. If e-tailers offer free shipping (the Cyber Monday special most in-demand), more shoppers will buy online. Rising gas prices will have us staying home this year. Who wants to face the mall with its screaming children, pushy sales people, and crowded parking lots in a bad economy?
Cyber Monday Specials, 2008
Early in the year, long before talks of stimulus checks and bailout plans, Getelastic.com posted their top ten e-commerce predictions for 2008. Here’s what they had to say about Cyber Monday.
“Anticipating a slow holiday season, retailers will begin promotions much earlier in 2008. Labor Day will be renamed “Cyber Monday.”
My predictions: It’s a humorous quote, but Getelastic has a point. The push for Cyber Monday specials start earlier and earlier every year. As soon as the Halloween pumpkins disappear, Christmas lights come out. E-tailers are already ramping up for Cyber Monday and have been since August. More people have wireless Internet access at home, making it easier to leisurely browse Cyber Monday specials – rain or shine. Despite the recession, Cyber Monday’s third year looks promising.
What do you predict will happen this holiday season? Will the malls empty out or fill with bargain shoppers? Will Cyber Monday succeed in its third year? Stay tuned for the latest Cyber Monday news, shopping tips, and Cyber Monday specials. Comment below with your predictions for the 2008 shopping season.
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