Retailers show satisfaction with Black Friday and Cyber Monday
The bargain weekend centered around Black Friday and Cyber Monday has brought substantial growth, particularly for Swiss online retailers. Friday remains the day with the highest sales. But according to retailers, the follow-up «Cyber Monday» is also going well.
Despite the pandemic, Swiss consumers were in a great shopping mood at the start of the Christmas shopping season this weekend, according to a survey of retailers conducted by the news agency AWP.
Customers were particularly keen on IT and consumer electronics products such as smartphones, laptops and headphones, as well as toys and household appliances such as coffee machines. "In times of corona, all items that optimally equip the home for home office and home schooling, as well as generally increase the feel-good factor in the home, are very popular," said a Migros spokesperson.
However, as expected, people mainly shopped online. "Demand on Black Friday was very high," said a spokeswoman for Migros' online subsidiary Microspot. "Almost 20 percent more people than last year visited the online shopping center during Black Friday week." Microspot's sister company Interdiscount reported 40 percent more online orders than in the previous year.
Migros' online retail subsidiary Digitec Galaxus also reported double-digit percentage sales growth compared to 2019. The online store Brack.ch is keeping a low profile when it comes to specific figures, but is also very satisfied: "The promotional weekend is still running until midnight, but what we've seen so far has exceeded our high expectations," said a spokesperson.
Protection concepts in the stores
Even for retailers with a stronger brick-and-mortar presence, the music was mainly played online, while protection concepts had to be implemented in stores. "Our safety concept has worked, consumers have tended to avoid Fridays and shopped much more online," said a Manor spokesperson. Online sales have grown in the high double-digit range.
Sales at Globus did not match those of the previous year, according to a spokeswoman. The increase in sales was roughly in line with expectations, Migros reported. Online orders at the Migros specialist stores Melectronics, Do it, SportXX and Micasa roughly doubled. "We are satisfied", said Coop.
Online shopping continues to grow
Black Friday is clearly the best-selling day of the promotional weekend. Many retailers are therefore already returning to normality. Manor and Coop, for example, are doing without Cyber Monday. "This campaign is not comparable to Black Friday in terms of scope and significance," said a Manor spokesperson.
Online, on the other hand, the discount festival is being extended further - in some places to Monday, but often also to the entire week, Cyber Week. "For the fact that we didn't announce this in advance, Cyber Monday is also running well on its own, albeit on a smaller scale than the promotional weekend as a whole," said the Brack spokesperson, for example. Digitec Galaxus, Microspot and Interdiscount are also reporting a good start to the day. The latter are celebrating Cyberweek until Sunday.
Online retailers are expecting further growth for the rest of the Christmas season: "Due to the current situation, we assume that even more people than usual will buy a larger proportion of their gifts online," says the Brack spokesperson. "We therefore expect order volumes to remain at a high level until the festive season." Digitec Galaxus is expecting at least 50 percent more orders by Christmas than at the same time last year. (SDA)
