Amazon Says This Was Its Biggest Holiday Shopping Weekend Ever
In a blog post Tuesday morning, Amazon has reported record-breaking sales for the Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping weekend in what turned out to be a banner holiday shopping year for the retail industry as a whole. Worldwide sales for independent businesses selling on the e-commerce giant alone surpassed $4.8 billion from Black Friday through Cyber Monday — up more than 60% over 2019.
For Amazon, gadgets won Black Friday – bestsellers for the company ranged from the new Echo Dot and Fire TV Stick 4k to a Shark IQ Robot Self-Empty Robot Vacuum. Barack Obama’s new memoir “A Promised Land” was on top for book sales. Hot toy picks included the LeapFrog Learning Friends 100 Words Book and LEGO Star Wars Mandalorian Battle Pack.
“In a holiday season unlike any other, it’s clear that customers still want great deals on gifts for their loved ones or a little something extra for themselves, and we’re glad to help deliver smiles throughout the season,” said Jeff Wilke, CEO, Amazon Worldwide Consumer.
Big Sales in a Pandemic: How Amazon Is Handling This Year’s Holiday Shopping Crunch
Online shopping soared to $9 billion on Black Friday, up 21.6% over 2019, and a staggering $10.8 billion on Cyber Monday according to Adobe’s analysis of online transactions from 80 top U.S. retailers. Meanwhile, early reports from Nosto, a leading E-commerce personalization platform, showed Cyber Monday online store sales up by 14% from last year and online store visits up by 21%.
With many stores closed Thanksgiving Day and people steering clear of in-store shopping due to the pandemic, expectations for online shopping were high going into the weekend: Adobe Digital Insights expected shoppers to spend up $13 million per minute on Cyber Monday during a single hour – 8 to 9 p.m. Pacific Time.
Want More Options?: Top Places To Shop Online That Aren’t Amazon
COVID has meant fewer people shopping in physical store locations and retailers desperate for revenue – so Black Friday sales began long before Thanksgiving. Amazon launched its Prime Day on October 12, with many considering it to be the unofficial launch of the 2020 holiday shopping season. Though deals promise to last through the month of December, the lengthened holiday shopping season didn’t seem to dilute online sales between Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
More From GOBankingRates
- 37 Life Hacks That Will Save You Money
- Are You Spending More Than the Average American on 25 Everyday Items?
- Investors Bank’s Checking Accounts: Helping You Do More With Your Money
- Guns and 32 Other Things You Definitely Do NOT Need To Buy During the Coronavirus Pandemic
Katie Wudel contributed to the reporting of this article.
About the Author
Check Out Our Free Newsletters!
Every day, get fresh ideas on how to save and make money and achieve your financial goals.
