Black Friday 2017 Sales Expected to Break Records

Ireland’s largest retail representative body, Retail Excellence, have advised all retailers to prepare for one of the busiest shopping weekends this festive season.

This weekend will begin with Black Friday in the traditional bricks and mortar stores enticing customers with big discounts, followed by Cyber Monday, where similar deals will be available from retailers with an online presence.

Lorraine Higgins, Deputy CEO of Retail Excellence stated, “After a degree of volatility in the retail industry since Brexit, retail sales were up 2% in Quarter 3 of 2017 so this weekend’s sales will be crucial to ensure this upward trajectory continues.”

Higgins explained that Black Friday and Cyber Monday are relatively new phenomena’s, but are here to stay.

Higgins continued, “This weekend thousands of discerning shoppers will be hoping to snag bargains so we are urging our members to ensure they get their offers out there to take advantage of this shopping festival.”

Black Friday sales are more recent this side of the Atlantic in comparison to the US, but according to Retail Excellence, ‘they are becoming increasingly important in retailer’s strategies’.

Higgins concluded, “Many have invested heavily in their stores and are enhancing their offers and experience for shoppers in order to encourage them back to their shops so this weekend will give them a chance to showcase their efforts.”