Black Friday 2024: traders cautiously optimistic

No long queues at stores, as in previous years, and with targeted, mostly targeted purchases, consumers began Black Friday 2024.

The picture we saw in the past, with crowds of shoppers waiting outside department stores and large chains, is completely different today. This is largely due to the fact that the holiday, which began as a single day of sales, has now turned into a period of sales that lasts several days and can even extend to one month. At the same time, inflationary pressures in recent years have caused most consumers to be more cautious and make specific purchases.

Thus, traffic on Ermou Street was light in the first hours after the shops opened, but as time passes, it “warms up” and traders expect a better picture and a greater flow of customers throughout today, as well as throughout the weekend when the shops are open.

“Consumer traffic and purchases on Black Friday are now spread out over more days and are not concentrated on just one day. The discounts started weeks in advance and shopping activity is expected to peak during the three days between now and Sunday, as well as on Monday. Cyber ​​Monday for online shopping”, – notes in CNN Greece President of the Piraeus Trade Association and Second Vice-President ΕΣΕΕ Theodoros Kapralos.

Traders are cautiously optimistic about sales performance during this period, with Mr Kapralos explaining that consumers have been conducting market research over the past period, asking store owners about prices and are now expected to make specific purchases.

“We hope that the weather in the coming days will also help smaller businesses get their share of the sales pie. Otherwise, consumer shopping will focus on large 'closed-door' department stores and online channels.”notes Mr. Kapralos.

Consumers seem to wait for sales periods such as Black Friday to make purchases they had put off throughout the year, pressured by high prices and using their available income to meet basic needs. On the other hand, according to Mr. Kapralos, the fact that sales can now be held throughout the year, to some extent “depreciated” such periods, since now citizens have the opportunity to look for attractive offers not only as part of sales and Black Friday.

This year, like every year, it is expected that “leaders” purchases will be electronics, clothes and shoes, household goods And children's products.

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