Despite the rush in some shopping centers, the magic of Boxing Day begins to lose its luster. At least that’s the feeling we have the day after this general day of “sales”.
There may still be a certain enthusiasm, but we are a long way from the long queues of yesteryear, sometimes starting the day before, especially in front of electronics stores where young and old alike snapped up video games, TVs and defunct DVD players. Many of us were waiting for the end-of-year sales before making these expensive purchases, convinced that we could get our hands on major savings.
There is still a certain reflex to shop around, but we are far from what Boxing Day once was. This may reveal changes in the way we consume. Unlike a few years ago when we were forced to go to the store to make a purchase, now we are one click away from a transaction that can be made at any time of the day or at night, the trip becoming above all an opportunity to go out.
We just have to inspect our recycling bins this holiday season. The boxes of the packages delivered take up most of the space. How many of us are to receive boxes on our porch while having no idea of its container, forgetting the object ordered on a whim one evening of boredom? Probably several.
Although the stores were filled yesterday, how many will they be able to survive waiting for big marketing days like boxing day and remaining deserted the rest of the year. The retail industry will inexorably have to deal with lazier consumers, preferring screen shopping to window shopping. The periods of great sales are also increasing, so it is not excluded, in the mind of the customer, that today’s discount will still be available in two weeks or in a month.
Ironically, those who benefit the most from these consumer events, be it Black Friday, Cyber Monday or Boxing Day, are neither the consumer nor the retailer, but rather the delivery companies who see a booming market ahead of them.