E-Commerce Websites achieved record-breaking sales and crossed the 1 Billion Dollar Barrier on Black Friday. This single-day sales record was set thanks to over 57 million US buyers that decided to use the online route to buy products for this holiday season. Compared to sales on the same day in the previous year, this year’s sales figure of over 1 Billion Dollars signifies a 26 percent rise as per data released by comScore Inc. In addition, Thanksgiving Day too provided an additional 32 percent of sales as compared to the previous year. With highly encouraging figures posted on Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday, online retailers were hopeful that Cyber Monday too would break all previous online sales records.
As per comScore figures, Digital Content and Subscriptions registered the highest rise of 29 percent over last year’s figures followed by Toys at 27 percent, and Consumer Packaged Goods at 23 percent. Other notable categories were Video Game Consoles and Accessories that witnessed a rise of 18 percent and Consumer Electronics with an 18 percent rise over 2011 figures.
As per a study conducted by IBM, sales achieved through mobile devices were at a healthy 16.3 percent, a majority of which were iPad users that were responsible for 10 percent of sales, followed by 8.7 percent by iPhone users, and 5.5 percent by Android users. Compared to 2011, this indicated a rise of 6.5 percent of sales by buyers using mobile devices.
In addition, IBM noted that US buyers were more alert to catch the best offers and deals online. Another study done by Performics indicated that mobile CPCs fell substantially as compared to previous year figures. Clicks on mobiles as well as tablets rose by 49 and 77 percent respectively even though spending was down by 34 percent and 12 percent respectively. Tablet CPCs were lower by 52 percent while Mobile CPCs were lower by 55 percent. Performics stated that this could be due to improved targeting techniques.
On the other hand, sales acquired through referrals of social networking sites including Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, etc., fell to 34 percent, which was a 35 percent drop as compared to 2011. Most tweeted features on Twitter included extra discounts and free shipping as offered by online retailers. As per Experian Hitwise figures, Amazon.com had a field day on Thanksgiving Day with maximum visits. Other websites of the top 500 sites that received over 181 Million hits on Thanksgiving Day were Walmart, Target, and Best Buy.
Similarly, these top 500 sites received over 179 million US visits on Black Friday in 2012. The Apple Store witnessed the highest day over day growth of 99 percent this Black Friday. As per Gian Fulgoni, Chairman of comScore Inc., online retail sales could touch 43.4 Billion Dollars during the months of November and December 2012.
Online retailers have a lot to cheer about this Holiday Season since online buyers have provided a healthy rise in sales figures as compared to the previous year.