Cyber Monday Smashes Online-Sales Record

RAPAPORT… E-commerce sales jumped 20% year on year to
$7.9 billion on Cyber Monday, making it the largest US online shopping day of all time, according
to projections from Adobe Analytics.



The prior Saturday and Sunday also set a record for the
biggest online shopping weekend in the US, raking in a combined $6.4 billion,
the research group said Monday. Thanksgiving Day online sales grew 28% to $3.7
billion, while those on Black Friday surged 24% to $6.2 billion.



E-commerce proceeds are up 20% to $58.5 billion for the
entire period from November 1 to 26, Adobe added.


For the first time, more than half of Cyber Monday buyers
shopped on mobile devices, with 44% using smartphones to make purchases, while
8% bought via tablets. Adobe also reported a record 50% increase in the number
of customers buying online and collecting their products in a store.


“Sales coming from smartphones hit an all-time high of $2
billion [on Cyber Monday],” said John Copeland, head of marketing and customer insights at Adobe.
”We [also] saw a significant spike in the ‘buy online, pick up in-store’ trend.”



Research groups have forecast strong increases in total
retail sales over the holiday season. IBM predicted a 5.2% rise in jewelry
purchases, and a 4.8% improvement overall, while the National Retail Federation
expects growth of 4.3% to 4.8% for the period.


Image: Online shopping. (Shutterstock)