Shopping and Retail, Lifestyle & Leisure / November 27, 2024

Black Friday Spain style: top 2 English words for November

Black Friday promotions in a store window in SpainPin

This could be a fun trivia question:

What are the two most popular English words in Spain around late November?  

The answer? — You guessed it: It’s “Black Friday”!

“Let’s Go! Black Friday!” announces a leading Spanish electronics store.  “Black Friday! Precios imbatibles!” — That’s a promise of “unbeatable prices” from a major supermarket chain.  These slogans will follow you everywhere – from store fronts, TV screens and radio programs to social media and online shopping in Spain.

In fact, here in Spain Black Friday promotions these days are no less ubiquitous than in the United States where the tradition originated.

But how did that happen? Why paint a Friday “black”? Interpretations vary. One explanation traces its roots to the 1950s when post-Thanksgiving absenteeism became widespread, particularly in Philadelphia. That city was also at the center of a related theory: swarms of holiday shoppers in stores and endless traffic jams on the roads prevented Philadelphia police officers from taking the day off after Thanksgiving — hence “Black Friday.”

For still others, it had has something to do with a critical period in retail, when the stores move from losses (being “in the red”) to profit (“in the black”). Whatever it may be, the term became a staple by the 1980s, and an earlier attempt to rebrand it as “Big Friday” had failed.  

Black Friday in Spain: The Origins and Evolution

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The arrival of Black Friday in Spain can be traced back to the early 2010s, when numerous American businesses began to use this shopping event to attract European customers.

However, it wasn’t until 2012 that Black Friday truly gained traction across Spanish retail, with companies such as Amazon leading the charge.

Initially, the concept received mixed reactions from both merchants and consumers. Many Spanish shoppers were unfamiliar with the American tradition and remained skeptical that such discounts would be meaningful at the local level.  

However, the allure of substantial savings during a time of active pre-holiday spending began to capture the attention of the general public. Retailers that adopted Black Friday in Spain experienced a positive shift in consumer engagement, reporting significant sales growth.

Over the years, Black Friday has transformed into a key feature of the Spanish retail calendar. The event has extended beyond just physical stores, with e-commerce platforms now playing a major role.

Today, Black Friday is widely embraced, representing a significant shift in how Spaniards approach holiday shopping. BBVA, one of the country’s leading banks, described Black Friday in Spain as “a runaway success thanks to the deals, promotions and discounts on millions of products in different sectors.” The bank noted that consumers usually take advantage of this day to get a jump on their Christmas shopping.
living here.

The idea behind the website was to share insights into what makes this area such an attractive place not just to visit, but to live. Naturally, we had our own ideas about it. But as we researched the subject and followed the news about Spain — and Benalmadena, Costa del Sol — it helped us get fresh perspectives from other sources.

Black Friday Spain: Figures & Trends

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Black Friday is a relatively new phenomenon in Spain’s retail landscape, but there have been solid numbers to prove that the idea is working. Here’s a recent example from the National Statistics Institute: In 2022, Black Friday sales surged by nearly 20% compared to the previous year, reflecting a broader acceptance of this shopping event among Spanish consumers.

Moreover, comparisons with other major shopping events show that Black Friday continues to outperform its competitors in overall retail spending. For example, recent reports show that Black Friday is outdueling Cyber Monday, which points to an interesting trend: Spanish consumers still prefer an in-store experience, it seems, if they can find enticing discounts. A virtual tour of a popular shopping center in Malaga can offer some insights as to why malls in Spain continue to draw cusotmers.

Meanwhile, Spanish retailers are taking a page from their American counterparts by extending their promotions beyond the one-day event. By now it seems that at least these two English words in Spain — Black Friday — are well understood by everybody, no translation needed!

When delving into regional variations, particularly the Costa del Sol, the trends are even more pronounced. Spain’s southernmost coast, renowned for its stunning shoreline and vibrant culture, capitalizes on both local shoppers and the high influx of international visitors and residents. Retailers in the Costa del Sol reported an impressive 30% increase during a recent Black Friday, placing it among the top-performing regions in Spain.

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