One in two Australians use Black Friday to buy Christmas gifts

CouriersPlease is urging retailers to prepare for Christmas gift shopping at their Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, with one in two Australians using these sales events to stock up on Christmas gifts, according to new research commissioned by the leading parcel delivery company.

CouriersPlease found that 52% of respondents use sales events – such as Black Friday and mid-season sales – to do their Christmas shopping. The highest proportion was among under-50s (65% of all under-50s) and women (56% of all women).

Last year, Australians spent $8 billion during the Black Friday-Cyber Monday sales period, a significant increase on previous years, suggesting it continues to be the shopping event consumers gravitate towards to snap up a bargain.

CouriersPlease asked respondents which sales event offers the deepest discounts. Black Friday topped the list, with 30% saying the event offers the best bang for their buck. One in five (21%) respondents think the best discounts can be found at the Boxing Day sales, while 18% stand by EOFY sales, and 14% believe end-of-season sales get them the best discounts.

CouriersPlease CEO Richard Thame said, “An increasing number of savvy retailers are recognising that Black Friday is the sales event of the year, motivating many to start their sales event earlier and end it later to nab a share of the shopper market.” 

While October to Christmas is traditionally the peak period for parcel volumes, CouriersPlease expects its largest spike in volumes to be in the second half of November, off the back of the Black Friday-Cyber Monday sales. 

“Our research shows that shoppers spend more at sales events that offer the deepest discounts. Despite cost-of-living pressures, consumer spending is on the rise: August this year marked the 18th consecutive month of steady growth in household spending, with significant increases occurring across discretionary goods such as clothing and footwear. Australians may be prepared to continue spending strongly this Black Friday sales period, even in a climate of high inflation and increasing interest rates.”