Cyber Monday , capping off the Thanksgiving weekend shopping season with a day dedicated almost entirely to online deals.
History of Cyber Monday
Cyber Monday was coined in 2005 by the National Retail Federation’s Shop.org division, created specifically to encourage online shopping at a time when internet retail was still growing and many people didn’t yet have fast home internet access. The idea was that shoppers would return to work on the Monday after Thanksgiving weekend and use faster office internet connections to shop online, since dial-up and slower home connections made browsing large retail sites less convenient over the weekend itself.
What began as a marketing term to describe an emerging shopping pattern quickly became a self-fulfilling phenomenon, as retailers began offering exclusive online-only deals specifically on the Monday following Thanksgiving. As home internet speeds improved and online shopping became more common overall, Cyber Monday evolved from a practical workaround into one of the biggest online shopping days of the year in its own right.
How People Shop on Cyber Monday
- Browsing online-exclusive deals that may not be available in physical stores
- Comparing prices across multiple retailers before purchasing
- Using browser extensions or apps that track price history and coupon codes
- Focusing on electronics, since Cyber Monday deals are often strongest in that category
- Taking advantage of extended Cyber Monday sales that now often run for several days rather than just one
Fun Facts About Cyber Monday
- The term “Cyber Monday” was coined in 2005 by the National Retail Federation’s Shop.org division.
- Cyber Monday was originally created around the idea that shoppers would use faster office internet connections after the Thanksgiving weekend.
- Online sales on Cyber Monday have grown into billions of dollars in spending each year in the United States.
- Electronics and tech products are consistently among the best-selling categories on Cyber Monday.
- Many retailers now extend “Cyber Monday” deals across an entire week, sometimes calling it “Cyber Week.”
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Cyber Monday?
Cyber Monday falls on the Monday after Thanksgiving each year, which is November 30th this year.
Why is it called Cyber Monday?
The name was coined in 2005 to describe the trend of people shopping online after returning to faster internet access at work following the Thanksgiving weekend.
Is Cyber Monday better than Black Friday for deals?
It depends on the category — Cyber Monday tends to offer stronger deals on electronics and online-exclusive items, while Black Friday often has the deepest discounts on in-store doorbuster items.