Black Friday/Cyber Monday 2020 Breakdown
After months of preparations and planning, Black Friday/Cyber Monday 2020 is officially over. Shopify have released some of the impressive statistics from over the weekend, and it’s safe to say that 2020 has been a record year in many ways for Shopify merchants around the world. Let’s take a look at some of those statistics, as well as some key takeaways as we move into the rest of the holiday shopping season.
A massive year for Shopify merchants
First thing’s first - overall sales. From November 27th till November 30th, Shopify recorded over $5.1+ Billion in sales across 1 million Shopify powered stores.
That unbelievable figure is made even more impressive by the fact that this represents a 76% growth from 2019. The record from last year was $2.9 Billion, which was surpassed in 2020 by 12pm on Saturday 28th November. Yep, you read that right.
Some countries seen triple digit growth
Shopify has made big steps in the last year to support global development of the platform, and the results from BFCM 2020 surely reflect that. The top countries for growth were:
- Japan - 347%
- Italy - 211%
- Germany - 189%
- United Kingdom - 122%
These percentages represent the growth seen year-on-year from 2019. The global reach of the Shopify platform is undeniable, however for those concerned about the environmental impact of BFCM will be happy to hear that Shopify offset all carbon emissions from the delivery of every order placed. That means nearly 62,000 tonnes of carbon emissions were offset in total.
Consumers chose to support independent businesses
2020 has been a hard year for many small businesses across the globe, but it would appear that Shopify customers have decided to show their support with 44+ Million choosing to purchase from a small or independent store. This reflects an increase of 50% from 2019.
Mobile stayed static, but remains king of BFCM
The importance placed on developing a great mobile experience is something many experts have weighed in on in the run up to Black Friday/Cyber Monday. However this year, Mobile’s share in comparison to Desktop stayed relatively flat. 67% of purchases were made on Mobile, versus 33% on Desktop; in 2019, these figures were 68% and 32% respectively.
Despite the lack of significant growth, there is still a clear demand for mobile responsive and mobile-first experiences from consumers.
The peak of the BFCM mountain
With that staggering total sales figure, you might be curious to know when sales peaked over the weekend. That would be at 12:00pm ET on Black Friday itself when the total sales that hour reached $102+ Million.
Key takeaways from BFCM 2020 so far
Focus on small and independent businesses
From the figures from Shopify alone, it’s obvious that the support for small businesses is very strong and independent merchants are in demand. Make the most of your status as a small business by highlighting it on your store and social media channels.
Mobile is still on top
Whilst there weren't any significant changes in Mobile vs Desktop in 2020, the vast majority of shoppers are choosing to use Mobile to snap up deals quickly. This is unlikely to change throughout the holiday season and beyond so if you haven’t already then it’s time to make Mobile a priority in 2021.
Time to go global
Shopify has continued to make it easier for merchants to offer their products and services to a global audience. With the massive growth seen on the platform in countries such as Japan and the UK, it's a great time to take advantage of that global opportunity. Consider exploring international shipping as an option for your 2021 plans.
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It’s clear from the figures that BFCM 2020 was the biggest yet. If you’re one of those businesses that saw a rise in sales this year, then congratulations! Use these facts and figures to develop your plans for BFCM 2021, and see if you can continue that momentum through to next year.