HISTORY: Cyber Monday

This started as a casual reference in the office and has blown up into a full blog post. If you are at all curious as to why we call the Monday after Thanksgiving “Cyber Monday” we have all the answers.

Picture this: it’s the Monday after Thanksgiving, and you’re back at work, diligently typing away at your computer, swapping floppys, sending faxes, swapping horror stories at the water cooler. But amidst the humdrum of office life, something extraordinary is happening – the internet is buzzing with activity. People are clicking, scrolling, and adding items to their virtual shopping carts at an unprecedented rate. This is Cyber Monday, a day that has transformed from a quirky trend into a global shopping frenzy.

Cyber Monday’s story began in 2005, when the National Retail Federation (NRF) noticed a curious pattern: online sales consistently spiked on the Monday following Thanksgiving. Intrigued by this phenomenon, they decided to capitalize on it, coining the catchy term “Cyber Monday” to capture the essence of this digital shopping extravaganza.

And it worked. Cyber Monday quickly caught fire, becoming one of the biggest online shopping days of the year. From its humble beginnings, it has witnessed an exponential growth trajectory, with online sales reaching a staggering $10.7 billion in 2022.

Kids, this is what we called a floppy disk. They were not all that floppy.

At the risk of sounding old… You have to remember that at the time, most people only had access to the internet at their work. Use a cell phone you say? The iPhone didn’t come out until almost 2 years later – June 29th in 2007. So if you wanted to take advantage of the Black Friday sales of online retailers you had to wait until you got back to work on Monday! Really!

Looking to the future, Cyber Monday is poised for continued growth and innovation. Cutting-edge technologies like augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are expected to transform the Cyber Monday shopping experience, making it even more immersive and interactive. Imagine virtually trying on clothes, visualizing products in your home, or experiencing the thrill of shopping in a whole new dimension.

Cyber Monday’s journey from a quirky trend to a global shopping phenomenon is a testament to the ingenuity of the e-commerce industry. It stands as a symbol of the transformative power of technology, blurring the lines between physical and digital shopping experiences, and redefining the way we interact with retail brands. So, as the next Cyber Monday approaches, prepare to embrace the digital shopping frenzy, be a savvy bargain hunter, and immerse yourself in the world of online shopping extravaganza.

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FresYes Writing Team

We say “Yes and” to our community, which we love to work and live in. We always speak positively about our growing business, each other and the Fresno community. We are proud to support local businesses, engage in what’s happening in our community and lovingly participate in as many volunteer activities as we can as individuals and as a collective group. We are generous and we are proud to give back.

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