7 Facts About Cyber Monday You Didn’t Know

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Today is Cyber Monday, a worldwide shopping event that has become the online version of Black Friday as much for its steep discounts as its convenience.

But you probably already knew that, thanks to the event’s intense media coverage. Still, there are several facts that you may not have known about Cyber Monday — including its origin and its relationship to its brick-and-mortar counterpart.

7 Many People Shop at Work, But Probably Shouldn’t

For many people in the U.S., the day after Thanksgiving is a holiday — and a natural fit for an all-night shopping event. That’s a luxury not shared by Cyber Monday, when most people still have to head to work in the morning.

Because of that, more than 50 percent of Cyber Monday sales are made from work computers. But if you’re tempted to shop at work, try to wait for a break. At least seven percent of HR departments polled have fired someone for holiday shopping.

6 Amazon is the Top Dog

As you might have guessed, e-commerce juggernaut Amazon is the most popular online storefront in the U.S. on Cyber Monday, according to CBS News.

But the other sites that make up the top 5 are a bit more unexpected. The list includes Wal-Mart, Best Buy and Footlocker, as well as deal aggregation site Cybermonday.com.

5 It’s 13 Years Old

While Cyber Monday may seem like a relatively recent phenomenon, the actual term originated in 2005 — when it was coined by the then-SVP of the National Retail Federation, Ellen Davis.

The reason? Research found that the Monday after Thanksgiving was a popular day for holiday shopping. At the time, the New York Times suggested that it was because of consumers shopping using their high-speed internet connections at work — after spending the weekend “window shopping.”

4 Most People Shop First Thing in the Morning

People are probably used to lining up in the small hours of the morning for Black Friday events, and that early-start trend seems to have carried over to Cyber Monday.

According to The Balance, about three-fourths of online shoppers start hunting for deals first thing on Monday morning. In addition, 25 percent will log on during lunch and 34 percent later on at night.

3 The Top Items Sold on Cyber Monday

Shoppers, of course, nab deals on all kinds of products during Cyber Monday. But there are still some items that turn out to be more popular than others.

Last year, for example, the top-selling products in 2017 include Apple’s iPad lineup, Apple AirPods, Google Chromecast, Samsung Galaxy Tab tablet, and Sony PlayStation VR, according to Fast Company.

2 It’s Only Getting Bigger

Cyber Monday has quickly become a rival for Black Friday for the most popular shopping day of the year. And it’s showing absolutely no signs of stopping.

The online commerce event has set new records every year since its invention. Last year, online sales during Cyber Monday grew to a new high of $6.9 billion in the U.S. alone — more than double the $2.98 billion spent in 2015.

1 The Lines Are Getting Blurred

Before the proliferation of high-speed internet and mobile devices, Black Friday was the undisputed shopping holiday of the year. Now, Black Friday is encroaching on Cyber Monday’s turf.

According to polls, Black Friday is quickly becoming an online event itself. Back in 2017, at least 26 percent of respondents said they planned on shopping equally in-store and online — while 20 percent said they’d shop mostly online.

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