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Cyber Black Friday is a marketing term for the online version of Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving Day in the United States. The term made its debut in a 2009 press release entitled "Black Friday Goes Online for Cyber Black Friday". According to the National Retail Federation Black Friday shopping survey, 195 million shoppers visited stores and websites over Black Friday weekend in 2009, up from 172 million last year. One-fourth of Americans shopping over the Black Friday weekend (28.5% or 49 million) were shopping online. comScore reported that Black Friday (November 27, 2009) saw $595 million in online sales, representing an 11% increase versus Black Friday 2008. Gian Fulgoni of comScore said, "Black Friday, better known as a shopping bonanza in brick-and-mortar retail stores, is increasingly becoming one of the landmark days in the online holiday shopping world." Some Cyber Black Friday sales are short-lived, last through the weekend, into Cyber Monday, and beyond.
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Origin of the term
'Cyber Black Friday' was created in 2009 by eCoupons.com after observing that online retailers launched their holiday sales before Cyber Monday to compete with the Black Friday brick and mortar frenzy. According to Talya Schaeffer, founder of Cyber Black Friday, "Cyber Black Friday sales are typically the largest of the season. Online retailers are hoping that by offering early discounts, consumers will shop early and often."
Black Friday Online Sales
In 2009, most major retailers began Black Friday-style sales online, betting that many would rather click for deals on Thanksgiving or Black Friday than wake up before dawn and head to stores in search of door-busters the following day. Dozens of retailers dangled special offers on their Web sites, though not all were identical to what could be found on Black Friday in stores. On July 23, 2010, Target.com announced its first ever "Back in Black Friday" one-day online-only sale. On October 27, 2010, Sears debuted its "Black Friday Now" campaign with a Black Friday sale on October 30 and 31 and every subsequent Friday until Christmas. Like other retailers, Sears started its Black Friday sale early because consumers were looking to shop earlier in the season and spread out spending in the weeks before Christmas.
Canada
Because of the strong Canadian dollar, in 2009 Canadian retailers began offering Black Friday sales to keep shoppers on their side of the border. TheSource.ca, Apple.ca and Newegg.ca offered Black Friday online sales.
United Kingdom
In 2010, Amazon.co.uk offered Cyber Black Friday deals from November 22–26. Amazon.co.uk offered Take That's Progress and Susan Boyle's The Gift CDs for £1 (both albums usually retail at £8.93). "The demand for the albums was incredible," said Brian McBride, managing director of Amazon.co.uk ltd. "Customers were online and ready for the start of 'Black Friday Deals Week', snapping up the thousands of albums that were available at just £1 in a matter of seconds."
According to Amazon.co.uk, "Although it was originally a US phenomenon, UK retailers are also starting to get in on the act, so hopefully you will grab a bargain or two this year, in the Black Friday 2011 sales."
In 2011, the number of retails offering Black Friday deals sharply increased, with retailers such as Apple Inc., Currys, PC World, Comet and even Harrods offering deals, in addition to Amazon.