Breaking down Black Friday

If the most recent winter holiday shopping season has demonstrated anything, it’s that consumers are still spending, but they’ve gotten more selective about where and how they spend. Black Friday, the tradition of dramatic retail discounts and the surge of shopping that follows, took a dive in participation after the recession of 2008, but regained relevance in 2010 and the years after, according to the National Retail Federation. In recent years, the local focus of Small Business Saturday and the convenience of Cyber Monday have also gained traction with many shoppers. As customers change their spending habits over time, the challenge is for retailers to keep up to date on these changes and adapt their approaches accordingly — especially in the hectic winter shopping season. Keep reading for 2015 data from Black Friday and Cyber Monday: