Retailers are pulling out all the stops this Cyber Monday with steep promotions and discounts, hoping to lure cautious shoppers following a lackluster Black Friday. Traditionally America’s biggest internet shopping day, Cyber Monday has seen a surge in online sales, with retailers using aggressive marketing tactics, including push notifications, emails, and ads promoting heavily discounted products such as cosmetics, electronics, toys, clothing, and more.
With only 23 days left until Christmas, discounts this year are deeper than ever, as consumers wait for these promotion-heavy days to make their purchases. For example, Target kicked off its “two-day Cyber Monday” sale on Sunday, offering 50% off thousands of items including video games, home decor, and technology products.
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Retailers are turning to generative AI to enhance the shopping experience, making it easier for consumers to find products through customer service chatbots and search features. Amazon’s Rufus chatbot, launched earlier this year, has become popular among shoppers like 29-year-old Cheyenne Berens, who has been using it to track prices on baby merchandise and electronics. According to Salesforce, retailers using generative AI tools for customer service saw a 15% higher purchase rate compared to others.
Online spending on Cyber Monday is projected to hit $13.2 billion, up 6% from last year, while Black Friday sales were around $10.8 billion. Additionally, traffic to retail websites from chatbots and users clicking on product links increased by 1,800% during the long weekend, according to Adobe Inc.
As many Americans are dealing with higher debt levels, “buy now, pay later” services are also seeing increased use, with spending on these services expected to approach $1 billion this holiday season. This surge reflects how consumers are navigating the financial challenges while seeking holiday deals.
