How to Make the Most of Black Friday Online Shopping

The Friday after Thanksgiving is often referred to as "Black Friday." In the US, Black Friday traditionally marks the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. For many shoppers, Black Friday means a slew of great deals on various products. But it also means traffic and a crush of people. In other words, Black Friday isn't just for shopping.Origins
Black Friday is a day of shopping that originated in the USA. People have Thanksgiving Day off and a natural desire to buy new things. Thus, Black Friday has become a natural beginning of the Christmas shopping season. Though the event was first observed in the United States, it did not catch on in Europe and Sweden until 2013.While the exact origins of the term are disputed, one common story has it that the term was coined by bookkeepers. In the early 20th century, many businesses struggled to make a profit over the course of the year, but the day after Thanksgiving became a profitable day for stores. The fact that these stores were able to turn a profit during the busiest shopping day of the year was an important milestone for these companies.Mythology
If you're not familiar with the Black Friday myth, it's a day when bargain hunters storm the stores in search of a great deal. It's an annual event that can make retailers millions of dollars, but it's not all sunshine and roses. In fact, the day started as a day of chaos in Philadelphia, when police officers used the phrase to describe the craziness in their city.The death of brick and mortar stores isn't the fault of ecommerce. But it certainly isn't helping either. Here are five myths that will have you questioning everything you know about retail and how it works.Online shopping
The best way to make the most of Black Friday online shopping is to register for retailer email lists. You can save your payment details and shipping addresses, which will make the checkout process faster. This will also prevent you from buying the wrong product - and ensure that you get a good deal. Once you have registered with a retailer, you can browse products before Black Friday begins.The amount of Black Friday online shopping is increasing year-on-year. It now accounts for $9 billion in global sales. As many consumers are turning to online shopping, brick and mortar stores are struggling to compete with online sales. Online deals are great for experimenting with new products and trying out new brands. A recent study shows that 52% of online shoppers are first-time buyers, down from 60% in 2020. The Consumer Electronics category saw the largest increase in first-time buyers, while the percentage of returning consumers was the lowest.Traffic jams
If you live in the United States, you probably know that traffic jams on Black Friday are a real pain. In some major metropolitan areas, bumper-to-bumper traffic is common, but those conditions pale in comparison to the clogged streets in Skopje, Macedonia. In some places, it's so bad that it looks like a parking lot. If you're heading to a mall, make sure to get there early, or leave early to avoid the traffic.If you're traveling during this busy shopping holiday, plan your route ahead of time. This will help you avoid the traffic jams on major thoroughfares and save time. It's even a good idea to use a navigation app, like Google Maps or Apple Maps. These apps can alert you to road delays and traffic jams, and some even offer turn-by-turn directions.Cross-border shopping
Cross-border shopping is a growing trend. While Black Friday was once only celebrated in the United States, more consumers are now shopping internationally. This trend is driven by globalization, which has changed consumer behavior globally. While consumers are still searching for the best deals, they now have the option to buy more items from different brands.Canadians can take advantage of the sales by shopping online. Major cross-border retailers are hoping to take advantage of this new trend. Canadians can also use this opportunity to shop at U.S. retailers, such as Macy's and Target.