U.S. shopping holidays such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday are capturing a cross-border audience. Cross-border consumers are continuing to shop online from their favorite American retailers and brands this holiday season while taking advantage of special deals and seasonal promotions, according to data from Pitney Bowes.
The following summary includes highlights from aggregate data on global online shopping purchases with more than 130 U.S. retailers during November 19-30, 2015.
Online Purchases
• Overall, the top 10 countries where consumers placed the most orders with U.S. retailers from November 19 through Nov. 30, 2015 were: Canada, China, the U.K., Australia, the Republic of Korea, Hong Kong, Mexico, Singapore, Saudi Arabia and the Russian Federation.
• Outside of Canada, shoppers in China placed the most orders during the week leading up to Thanksgiving.
• In 2015, global shoppers in China were the highest for placing online product orders with U.S. retailers on Black Friday (November 27). Overall, there was a 38% increase in orders placed online by Chinese consumers with U.S. retailers on Black Friday compared to last year. Shoppers in Canada were second for placing orders with U.S. retailers on Black Friday in 2015. Overall, there was a 3% increase in Canadians placing orders online this year with U.S. retailers compared to Black Friday 2014.
• Consumers in the UK were the third highest for placing orders online with U.S. retailers on Black Friday this year, surpassing Australia. Also, shoppers in the Republic of Korea were fourth for placing online orders on Black Friday this year with U.S. retailers, which was a 109% increase compared to Black Friday in 2014. Australians were fifth for placing the most orders with U.S. retailers on Black Friday in 2015.
• On Saturday, November 28, there was a 16% increase in total orders placed by global online shoppers with U.S. retailers compared to the Saturday after Black Friday in 2014. There was a 52% increase in orders placed by online shoppers in China with U.S. retailers on Saturday, November 28 compared to the Saturday after Black Friday in 2014. Also, there was a 32% increase in orders placed by online shoppers in the U.K. with U.S. retailers on the Saturday after Black Friday this year compared to the same day in 2014. In addition, there was a 36% increase in orders placed by online shoppers in the Republic of South Korea this year with U.S. retailers on Saturday, November 28 compared to the same day last year.
• On Sunday, November 29, there was a 9% increase in total orders placed by global online shoppers with U.S. retailers compared to the same day in 2014. There was a 39% increase in orders placed by online shoppers in China with U.S. retailers on Sunday November 29 compared to the same day last year. Also, there was a 36% increase in orders placed online by UK consumers with U.S. retailers on the Sunday after Black Friday compared to this same day in 2014. In addition, there was an 85% increase in orders placed online by consumers in the Republic of Korea on Sunday, November 29 compared to this same day in 2014.
• On Cyber Monday (December 1), consumers in Asia were ready to shop. There was a 78% increase in orders placed by online shoppers in China with U.S. retailers compared to this day last year. There was also a 114% increase in orders placed online by consumers in Taiwan with U.S. retailers compared to Cyber Monday in 2014. In addition, there was a 34% increase in orders placed by online shoppers in the Republic of Korea. The other bright spot was a 6% increase in orders placed online by consumers in Canada on Cyber Monday this year compared to the same day in 2014.
• Despite the strength of the U.S. dollar, American retailers and brands selling online to global shoppers in the Middle Eastern countries of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are also continuing to see solid growth. These shoppers appreciate the luxury retailers in the U.S.
What Time Are Global Consumers Shopping
• When does Black Friday start globally? The peak global shopping rush started at 2:00 a.m. GMT (9:00 p.m. U.S. EST, November 26 – Thanksgiving Day in the U.S), this is when there was a 647% increase in sales from the previous week.
Types of Products Consumers Are Buying
• Looking sharp. Overall, apparel continues to be the top item purchased by global consumers in the majority of countries.
• Baby items were popular with global online shoppers in Canada and the Republic of Korea.
• Shoppers in China are making the most online purchases of handbags, wallets and footwear from U.S. retailers.
• In Mexico, apparel continues to be a favorite item for consumers to purchase online from U.S. retailers. Shoppers in Mexico are also buying jewelry and ornaments.
• International shoppers in Saudi Arabia and the UAE have a higher propensity for buying luxury apparel, handbags and other items.