Retailers Increase Cyber Monday Promotions

According to Shop.org’s eHoliday Survey, which was conducted by BIGresearch, 87.1 percent of retailers will have a special promotion for Cyber Monday, up from 83.7 percent last year and 72.2 percent in 2007. The survey, which polled 70 retailers from Sept. 14-Oct. 6, revealed that the most popular promotions are expected to be specific deals (42.9 percent), one-day sales (32.9 percent) and free shipping on all purchases (15.7 percent). Half of retailers will distribute promotions and deals to shoppers through a special Cyber Monday email.

This year, 53.5 percent of workers with Internet access, or 68.8 million people, will shop for holiday gifts from work. According to the survey, three-fourths (73.8 percent) of young adults ages 18-24 with Internet access will shop at work, and men are more likely to shop from work than women (56.3 percent versus 50.8 percent). The poll on consumer shopping at work was conducted for Shop.org by BIGresearch from Nov. 3-10.

Cyber Monday, a term coined by Shop.org in 2005, began after retailers noticed a trend of people shopping online on the Monday after Thanksgiving. While online retailers will feature promotions and savings on their own sites, more than 700 companies have come together again this year to feature their Cyber Monday deals at CyberMonday.com, which launched three years ago. In addition to hundreds of special offers, some of which will be exclusive promotions only available on the site, CyberMonday.com will feature a Deal of the Hour on both Black Friday and Cyber Monday this year, highlighting a different retail promotion every 60 minutes. Offers will include free shipping specials, dollars off, percentages off and free gifts with purchase.

— Nielsen Business Media