Black Friday in Germany: Does It Exist?
Are you thinking of shopping on Black Friday in Germany? Black Friday is the best day to buy presents or something for yourself that you have been keeping on a wishlist for a long. However, does Black Friday actually exist in Germany, and if so, what kind of discounts can you expect?
Something similar to Black Friday has existed in Germany since 2006, but only lately have German retailers and consumers started following the US Black Friday. Nowadays, most large companies and retailers in Germany participate in Black Friday sales, offering great discounts for German customers. In 2022, Black Friday in Germany is on November 25.
No doubt, Black Friday is the most important day for buyers in the US. But how does it look in Germany? Should you keep you wait until the end of November or go shopping now? In this article, we explain everything you need to know about Black Friday and Cyber Monday in Germany.
Do Germans have Black Friday?
Black Friday also exists in Germany. In fact, it’s an important date for many retailers and buyers. You can save hundreds of euros when shopping on this day, while companies generate billions in revenue.
For example, this is how much money German consumers have saved during Black Friday 2021:
- TV: 8%
- Laptops: 9%
- Vacuum cleaners: 7%
- Smartwatches: 10%
- E-bikes: 4%
- Phones and smartphones: 1%
Moreover, in Germany, Black Friday sales happen not only online but also in physical stores.
Overall, the total sales generated during Black Friday and Cyber Monday were €5.3 billion in 2021. So, it’s a pretty significant event for the German economy.
About Black Friday
Black Friday is always the Friday after Thanksgiving (the fourth Thursday in November), although Thanksgiving isn’t celebrated in Germany. On the other hand, Cyber Monday is on Monday after Black Friday.
As you might know, Black Friday originates in the US and is also the most popular there. Although some European countries also have introduced Black Friday sales in recent years. For example, Black Friday is pretty widespread in the UK, and German retailers also offer substantial discounts during this time.
In fact, the Apple company brought Black Friday to Germany for the first time in 2006. However, it took until 2013 before the day also took place here on a larger scale. Nowadays, many German stores participate in Black Friday.
Compared to the US, people in Germany don’t wait until Black Friday to go ahead with their purchases. However, some percentage (about 30%) will postpone their plans until the sale.
They would rather shop during this time due to the discounts offered by companies. Besides, many prefer to shop online instead of going to the physical shop.
Can you really save money during Black Friday in Germany?
Black Friday and Cyber Monday promotions claim that you can save up to 90% in some cases. But is it really so?
Unfortunately, many shops speculate during the sale week in Germany, where they make somewhat fake offers. Some retailers present a higher than usual retail price to compare it to the reduced rate. That way, buyers get an impression of a good deal.
For that reason, you should check prices on items you plan to purchase during Black Friday a few days before the sale. Hence, you will already know what the previous price of the product was.
In the meantime, you can also see some discounts offered between those dates. Many companies advertise sales during the entire Black Friday week, also known as Black Week.
You can see more on Black Friday in Germany, including some offers on this website or on blackfridaysale.de.
How long German Black Friday lasts?
Black Friday goes only for one day, or 24 hours. Yet, many retailers offer discounts during the entire week of Black Friday or a weekend between Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
When is Black Friday in Germany in 2022?
In 2022, a Black Friday is on 25 November in Germany. About 37% of German buyers already plan to shop on Black Friday 2022.
Black Friday is the shopping event of the year in Germany. It’s similar to the US but much smaller. The promotion day always takes place on the last Friday in November, and this time falls on November 25, 2022. But what exactly is Black Friday? We’ll tell you in this text.
Does Cyber Monday exist in Germany?
Cyber Monday also does exist in Germany. In 2022, Cyber Monday is on 28 November. Nonetheless, in Germany, Black Friday is much more popular than Cyber Monday, where most sales happen on Black Friday.
Similarly to Black Friday, Cyber Monday came from the US and always happen directly on the Monday after Thanksgiving. For US retailers, this day marks the start of the online Christmas shopping season.
Amazon brought Cyber Monday to Germany back in 2010. This event now happens every year, where various companies and retailers promote various discounts and special offers.
13.5% of the annual number of purchases among German buyers are made during the eight-day around Black Friday and Cyber Monday. German consumers tend to complain about products that are offered at discounts; they are often unattractive to buyers.
In total, German retailers saw an increase of 1347% in buyers activity during Black Friday and only 170% during Cyber Monday last year. Germans spend on average of €268 during holiday sales. Yet, shoppers in the US spend significantly more – about €410, and UK customers buy at around €371.
About the study
The statistics regarding Black Friday and Cyber Monday were initially published on Cybermonday.global. The results were gathered with the help of Google Trends, Google Keyword Planner, and Picodi.com.
Original source: cybermonday.global
The most popular items in Germany during Black Friday and Cyber Monday
Cyber Week around Black Friday and Cyber Monday has become one of the top shopping events for Germans. According to the latest Statista Global Consumer Survey, 48% of surveyed people plan to participate in sales this year.
The most popular categories for German shoppers during Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2021 were:
- Clothes: 47%
- Electronics for entertainment: 40%
- Shoes: 30%
- Home appliances: 24%
- Accessories: 17%
- Books, movies, music, and video games: 17%
Besides that, 11% of Germans prefer to shop in the store and 37% online.
Other statistical data shows that interest among buyers in November rises in the following categories:
- Presents: 84%
- Toys and products for children: 66%
- Jewelry: 53%
- Shoes: 43%
- Cosmetics and perfume: 30%
- Home and garden: 27%
- Electronics: 26%
- Books: 20%
- Home appliances: 9%
- Sport: 8%
Similar trends also have been seen among buyers from Switzerland, Austria, Brazil, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Italy.
German retailers that do Black Friday
Today, many German retailers, companies, and shops participate in Black Friday. In the end, it’s the time when they get the most business.
For example, all the largest companies, like Amazon, Saturn, MediaMarkt, and OTTO, offer Black Friday sales. Black Friday discounts can be found at both – online retailers and brick-and-mortar stores. At the same time, the majority of Germans shop online during the Black week.
There are also dedicated websites where you can check all stores participating in Black Friday & Cyber Monday and even see the items on sale. Here are some brands offering Black Friday sales in 2022:
- Apple
- Adidas
- Amazon
- Media Markt
- Saturn
- OTTO
- ASOS
- Dyson
- Nike
- Puma
- Ray-Ban
- Samsung
Some other German stores participating in Black Friday & Cyber Monday are WMF, Galeria Kaufhof, Bosch, Samsung, LEGO, Douglas, Haribo, Miele, Tchibo, Makita, Hugendubel, IKEA, Mömax, Christ, Nespresso, NUK, Olymp, Ravensburger and many more.
See the full list of German retailers who participate in Black Friday.
Highest discounts during Black Friday
Some product categories offer buyers more savings than others. Here is the ranking for different items:
- Security cameras: 16%
- Sony PS4: 16%
- Gaming headsets: 14%
- SSD hard drives: 13%
- Laptops: 9%
- Grills: 12%
Is Black Friday big in Germany?
Since its introduction, Black Friday has been one of the most important days for German retailers participating in the sale. Every year, the popularity of Black Friday is increasing.
For instance, in 2021, the total sales generated during Black Friday and Cyber Monday were €5.3 billion.
So how many people in Germany actually take advantage of holiday sales? In November 2021, about 34% of 56.4 million (total number of consumers aged between 18 to 69 years old) bought something on sale.
About 20% of purchased items offers on Cyber Monday. In total, approximately 19.8 million buyers in Germany participated in Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales.