Black Friday once again turned into a shopping frenzy, as Kiwi consumers flocked to the shops to scout out the best bargains.
Consumers’ shopping behaviour is in the spotlight now more than ever, and leading Buy Now, Pay Later provider Afterpay has unveiled data that shines a light on exactly where Kiwis put their money this Black Friday, comparing 2024’s spending to last year’s (2023) habits.
One of the most popular items on every shopper’s list fell into the category of technology, which has soared in demand over the past 12 months.
Kiwis prioritised staying connected and up to date, with smartphone purchases up an impressive 240 percent, headphones increased by 141 percent, and TVs saw a 62 percent boost from last year’s Black Friday sales.
Gaming gifts were on the rise, with approximately 1,100 PlayStation gift cards purchased using Afterpay, which was up 21 percent on last year. Gen Z led the charge (56 percent of purchases), with millennials not far behind (32 percent). However, Xbox consoles saw a dip, with sales down by 13 percent.
Home upgrades topped the list for 2024. Big-ticket home items were in hot demand, with vacuum cleaner sales up by a massive 218 percent, fridges increased by 106 percent, and dryers and sofas growing by 69 percent and 60 percent respectively.
Consumers seemed to embrace bold and cosy fashions during their 2024 Black Friday splurges. Kiwis doubled down on scarves, with sales up 100 percent, and clogs made a stylish comeback, growing by 24 percent, driven largely by the millennial demographic (57 percent).
Work-from-home essentials and supplies stayed in strong demand this year as well. Desk purchases increased by 69 percent, which has indicated the strong demand for hybrid work trends that are here to stay.
Separately, Afterpay’s Festive Insights: Unwrapped report showed that 44 percent of consumers had already planned to pre-purchase Christmas gifts during Black Friday and Cyber Weekend sales.
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