When the doorbell rang this week, it was met with some relief. No longer did myself and himself shoot each other a look thinking, how much time do we have for the canvassers? Instead, the knock came with the assumption that it was our postman Gerard, delivering one of my many online purchases from Black Friday. That’s the reality of Christmas shopping these days. Black Friday might be an American tradition going back to the 1950s but it is a relatively new shopping phenomenon in Ireland that really took off in the last decade.
When the doorbell rang this week, it was met with some relief. No longer did myself and himself shoot each other a look thinking, how much time do we have for the canvassers? Instead, the knock came with the assumption that it was our postman Gerard, delivering one of my many online purchases from Black Friday.
That’s the reality of Christmas shopping these days. Black Friday might be an American tradition going back to the 1950s but it is a relatively new shopping phenomenon in Ireland that really took off in the last decade.
It has, to a certain extent, reset the clock on Christmas shopping, especially to incorporate the time needed for online deliveries.
While the tally is still been counted on the spending in last weekend’s sales, statistics released by AIB found that in 2023, Irish shoppers spent €105m on Black Friday alone, and that’s just online! There was over 1m transactions, €4.3m spent every hour, €73,000 every minute and €1,200 spent every second. That was 11% busier than 2022, so spend was probably even higher again this year.
If the sheer commercialism of those stats is starting to dampen your festive spirit, then I would encourage you to go to page 25; Shane Lehane has a beautiful piece reflecting on Christmas shopping of days gone by that will give you the nostalgic feel-good factor.
This Sunday is 8 December, the traditional Christmas shopping day that was historically very important for the farming community. Shane reflects on the ‘Live Market’, where the turkey, geese, ducks and hens that were destined for the festive table were brought to, still alive. He also details the ‘Christmas Box’, which could contain a slab of ‘curney’ fruit cake, a bottle of port and the all-important Christmas candle.
Shopping local
This weekend is sure to be another busy shopping weekend but what the beauty of online shopping has allowed for is the opportunity to enjoy your trip to your local town or city more. I tend to get the bulk of my shopping delivered to my door. This then means I can head into town to browse for the last few gifts, soak up the atmosphere, enjoy the lights and the music, without having to lug around a hundred different bags. I’m still supporting local shops and cafés and keeping money within the community.
Shopping online isn’t the black beast that is used to be. Instead, as more and more Irish shops have moved online, there is increased opportunity to support green.
Earlier this year, the CSO released that more than a third (36%) of Irish enterprises sell their products online. So when you’re doing your online search, think of your florist in town, that Irish jewellery company, the gift shop you visited on holidays, a local toy shop or a boutique that you passed in the car that you didn’t have time to stop into.
Times have changed, the way we shop has evolved, but we can still support local and shop Irish during these busy December days.
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