Basically, Cyber Monday is the online equivalent to the day-after-Thanksgiving brick-and-mortar rush.
The New York Times today took a look at "a gimmick that has become a real trend":
Two years ago, Cyber Monday was a marketing gimmick in search of shoppers. This year, it seems to be a genuine trend that retailers have embraced.
Retailers are hoping the sales create early demand for goods, thus easing the late-season strain on the merchants’ shipping operations. It could also help them record early gains during what could be a cheerless holiday season. Analysts said ripples from the credit crisis and rising fuel costs, among other factors, could damp consumer spending.
The key to Cyber Monday is big discounts. HSN.com is offering first time shoppers 15 percent discounts, for instance.
The result: Cyber Monday sales are expected to add up to about 12 percent of an expected $39 billion in holiday online sales.
Which makes Cyber Monday a "gimmick" that all smart biz's should take into account -- if not this year, then next.
