Is Cyber Monday going to be replaced by Mobile Tuesday?

As an insider in the retail industry, I know that it is all about driving traffic and sales. This past "Black Friday" retailers offered more promotions than ever, and deep discounts to lure consumers to spend an estimated 7% more this year than last year. Now, that is not really referencing the point that many consumers held on to their money in September and October to take advantage of the promotional pricing...not to mention the how profit margins will shake out for the retailer!

Cyber Monday started out as a huge online shopping day when everyone returned to work from their long Thanksgiving weekend holiday and used their employer's internet access to shop (instead of working!!!). Cyber Monday has been used as a marketing tool by many retailers large and small to draw internet sales with special online prices and promotions. Even artisans on sites such as Etsy offer fantastic Cyber Monday specials.

It will be interesting to see how this Cyber Monday performs. For one thing, we know that November was a tough month for online commerce. Online sales actually declined for the first time for November. That is a troubling sign for retailers, especially retailers who exclusively sell online without "brick and mortar" destinations for shoppers.


(Image from www.mopocket.com)

Now, we also have "MOBILE TUESDAY". This is a newly launched promotion for retailers to take advantage of shoppers using their cell phones to buy online! One leading retailer to take advantage of this trend is The Gap. They offer a really cool iPhone app in which shoppers can put together outfits and save those items to create a gift list. They can then direct friends and family to purchase those items...all from their cell phone!

To Recap:

Black Friday...a good thing this year for price-sensitive consumers, we will see how it truly shakes out for retailers and their profit margins.

Cyber Monday...may be a disappointment if people are spreading their online shopping out over time and not one particular day. I believe this year people will use the internet more than ever for searching, and for price comparison. The retailers with the best online prices will see the best results for Cyber Monday...but there is still the profit margin aspect to those sales and volume.

Mobile Tuesday...I am going to get behind this one myself. I find it really exciting to use my cell phone technology to its true potential and will see what retailers are luring me to spend my money via cell phone shopping! This is my favorite shopping event: I don't need to fight the crowds, I don't need my employer's internet access...I can shop by phone anywhere, any time!