All your Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2019 questions answered

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are less than a fortnight away and if you don’t know what that means, we’re here to help.

Think of us as your shopping Siri, your sale sage.

What is Black Friday?

Contrary to popular belief, Black Friday is not an emo public holiday.

It is an annual mega-sale, originating in the U.S. and increasingly popular in Australia. Believed to be the world’s biggest shopping event, it sees hundreds of brands and retailers offering thousands of discounts on products including tech, fashion, beauty and homewares, both in-store and offline.

When is Black Friday?

The official Black Friday event is held the day after Thanksgiving in the U.S. and Australia. It traditionally runs for 24 hours, although many retailers now extend the sale period prior to and/or after the titular Friday.

This year, Black Friday will be held on November 29 in Australia.

And, thanks to the time difference, Australian shoppers can also participate in U.S. online sales that offer international shipping the following day.

Imagine getting all your Christmas shopping done three weeks early. It’s possible! Dare to dream.

Why is it called Black Friday?

No, it has nothing to do with Rebecca Black.

While ‘Black Friday’ was originally coined for the gold market crash on September 24, 1869. In reference to the post-Thanksgiving sales, the phrase is believed to have first been used in Philadelphia to describe the traffic jams, pedestrian incidents and even violence caused as a result of the event.

What is Cyber Monday?

Cyber Monday occurs every year on the Monday immediately following Thanksgiving and Black Friday. It is a newer event that sees brands and retailers offer online-only deals.

This may be in addition to or instead of Black Friday deals, but many stores and sites run sales from Friday to Monday, inclusive of the weekend.

The term Cyber Monday debuted in 2005, in a Shop.org article about how the Monday after Black Friday was becoming a behemoth in its own right online.

When is Cyber Monday?

This year Cyber Monday is happening on December 2. And again, Aussies can also take advantage of U.S. deals that offer international shipping the following day.

What brands and retailers participate in Black Friday and Cyber Monday?

Some of Australia’s biggest brands, stores and ecommerce sites get into the sale spirit on and offline, offering huge discounts across a wide range of products and services.

We don’t have a complete list of 2019 Black Friday or Cyber Monday sales, but based on previous years and recent communications it’s safe to say you can expect deals from players such as David Jones, The Good Guys, Best&Less, JB Hi-Fi, Myer, Big W, Target, Kmart, Amazon, eBay, Catch, Harvey Norman, boohoo, boohooMan, Nasty Gal, Aquila, Bonds. Sephora, looktastic and more.

What if I want to shop right now?

First, take a deep breath.

Then, click here for a list of online sales that have already kicked off.

Happy shopping!

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