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'Black Friday' in Spain explored: How we plan to shop on 'discount day'
20/11/2022
SHOPPERS in Spain are planning on making a head-start on their Christmas gift-buying on 'Black Friday', according to research, and will spend an average of more than €200 each on global 'discount day'.
Although some physical stores and online retailers have started their cut-price campaigns early, 'Black Friday' is on November 25, and is likely to see high shopping traffic in person and over the internet.
A survey conducted by Aladinia, which sells 'experiences' packages – such as mini-breaks, spa days and adventures – as gifts, showed 80% of respondents will use the reduced price campaign day to buy as many Christmas presents as possible.
But those interviewed have high expectations: Most will only make purchases, for themselves or as festive presents, if the price tag carries a hefty reduction.
In total, three in 10 will only buy anything at all on 'Black Friday' if they get at least 30% off the usual retail price, whilst 4% say they would only consider parting with their cash if discounts were as high as 70%.
Only 13% would be willing to spend for discounts starting at 10%, and nobody is prepared to shop on 'Black Friday' for prices reduced by any less than this figure.
No cutting back their 2022 spending for majority of shoppers
Whether or not they plan to shop for Christmas, consumers intending to take advantage of 'Black Friday' expect to spend an average of €224.
This shows the cost of living crisis may not be having such an impact in Spain as elsewhere in the world – in fact, with electricity bills set to return to levels of June 2021 for the next fortnight or so at least, and the government-subsidised 30-cent-per-litre reduction in petrol and diesel at the pump, the main hike in necessary spending for households has been in supermarket shopping.
Indeed, 17% of Aladinia's respondents said they planned to spend over €400 on 'Black Friday' alone.
For those intending to make purchases, little change in their budgets have been reported: Three in 10 plan to spend the same as they did on 'Black Friday' last year, whilst 33% will spend less, and 37% will spend more.
On average, 'Black Friday' consumers will buy five new items – just over a quarter plan to buy no more than four, and 9% expect to pick up at least 10 articles.
What will they buy?
Computer equipment, electronics and domestic appliances remain the most popular likely purchases on 'Black Friday' – 26% will use the worldwide retail price cuts to acquire these.
Clothes and shoes are on the list for a quarter of shoppers, whilst leisure activities and 'experiences' are key for 23%.
Other goods and services Spanish consumers predict they will spend money on this coming Friday are health and beauty (16%) and home interior or decorations (9%).
As well as Christmas presents, nearly a third hope to take advantage of 'Black Friday' to buy birthday gifts; 16% plan to buy something for a wedding anniversary, and 9% will use the discounted retail prices to pick up their 'Secret Santa' presents for workplace or social groups.
How 'Black Friday' shoppers choose where to spend
Pre-Christmas shopping crowds are not expected to fill the streets this year, despite Spain's eagerness for retail therapy this weekend – of those intending to make purchases on November 25, the majority will do so online.
Only 10% say they will do their buying exclusively in physical shop premises – a total of 71% plan to use the internet for some or all of their shopping, and 40% will use entirely online facilities.
Of those who will do their 'Black Friday' buying via cyberspace, the overwhelming majority – 79% - will use their mobile phones for the transaction, whilst the remainder, 21%, will use a desktop or laptop computer.
Unless they already know which specific retailers they will be using, a third of Spanish consumers, according to the survey, will home in on websites advertising special offers or with 'Black Friday' banners, whilst another 31% will take their inspiration from social media.
One in five will consult the retailer newsletters they receive in their inboxes to check for special offers, and 11% will go by friend or family recommendations.
'Red letter' day adventures, restaurants, weekends away...
For those who plan to give someone a gift of an 'experience' rather than an 'object' – or who intend to do so for themselves – the most popular of these, Aladinia's survey reveals, is spa and relaxation breaks – either as short trips away, as a day out, or just a session, with 31% expressing their intention to book these.
Mini-breaks – weekends away or short holidays, in Spain or abroad – account for 23% of 'experiences' shoppers plan to spend money on this 'Black Friday'.
For some, a one-off or 'red letter day' experience or adventure is on their shopping list: Hot-air balloon rides or light aircraft trips in the case of 16%, and other action-packed or bucket-list activities in the case of 13%.
Not all 'experiences' involve thrilling challenges or once-in-a-lifetime events, though: In total, 14% plan to buy packages or vouchers for meals out or other food-related special occasions, Aladinia reveals.
How not to lose money
As always, and despite how it's much safer and more widely used now than when it was first 'invented' at the turn of this century, online shopping still carries some risks. Keeping your cash secure and not falling for scams is vital, and high-street financial entity CaixaBank's advice on the matter remains valid, as do Kutxabank's recommendations on protecting yourself from online fraud. Both these articles cover aspects you may not have thought of, so they're always worth revisiting before starting your purchases.
When shopping either in physical retail premises or on the internet, remember that you as a consumer have certain rights which must be respected – Spanish law does not allow customer service or consumer protections to reduce just because the prices have.
Check out this advice given by the key national consumer organisations, FACUA and the OCU, published at the beginning of 2022 with the January sales in mind, but applicable to sales periods across the board at any time of the year.
Related Topics
SHOPPERS in Spain are planning on making a head-start on their Christmas gift-buying on 'Black Friday', according to research, and will spend an average of more than €200 each on global 'discount day'.
Although some physical stores and online retailers have started their cut-price campaigns early, 'Black Friday' is on November 25, and is likely to see high shopping traffic in person and over the internet.
A survey conducted by Aladinia, which sells 'experiences' packages – such as mini-breaks, spa days and adventures – as gifts, showed 80% of respondents will use the reduced price campaign day to buy as many Christmas presents as possible.
But those interviewed have high expectations: Most will only make purchases, for themselves or as festive presents, if the price tag carries a hefty reduction.
In total, three in 10 will only buy anything at all on 'Black Friday' if they get at least 30% off the usual retail price, whilst 4% say they would only consider parting with their cash if discounts were as high as 70%.
Only 13% would be willing to spend for discounts starting at 10%, and nobody is prepared to shop on 'Black Friday' for prices reduced by any less than this figure.
No cutting back their 2022 spending for majority of shoppers
Whether or not they plan to shop for Christmas, consumers intending to take advantage of 'Black Friday' expect to spend an average of €224.
This shows the cost of living crisis may not be having such an impact in Spain as elsewhere in the world – in fact, with electricity bills set to return to levels of June 2021 for the next fortnight or so at least, and the government-subsidised 30-cent-per-litre reduction in petrol and diesel at the pump, the main hike in necessary spending for households has been in supermarket shopping.
Indeed, 17% of Aladinia's respondents said they planned to spend over €400 on 'Black Friday' alone.
For those intending to make purchases, little change in their budgets have been reported: Three in 10 plan to spend the same as they did on 'Black Friday' last year, whilst 33% will spend less, and 37% will spend more.
On average, 'Black Friday' consumers will buy five new items – just over a quarter plan to buy no more than four, and 9% expect to pick up at least 10 articles.
What will they buy?
Computer equipment, electronics and domestic appliances remain the most popular likely purchases on 'Black Friday' – 26% will use the worldwide retail price cuts to acquire these.
Clothes and shoes are on the list for a quarter of shoppers, whilst leisure activities and 'experiences' are key for 23%.
Other goods and services Spanish consumers predict they will spend money on this coming Friday are health and beauty (16%) and home interior or decorations (9%).
As well as Christmas presents, nearly a third hope to take advantage of 'Black Friday' to buy birthday gifts; 16% plan to buy something for a wedding anniversary, and 9% will use the discounted retail prices to pick up their 'Secret Santa' presents for workplace or social groups.
How 'Black Friday' shoppers choose where to spend
Pre-Christmas shopping crowds are not expected to fill the streets this year, despite Spain's eagerness for retail therapy this weekend – of those intending to make purchases on November 25, the majority will do so online.
Only 10% say they will do their buying exclusively in physical shop premises – a total of 71% plan to use the internet for some or all of their shopping, and 40% will use entirely online facilities.
Of those who will do their 'Black Friday' buying via cyberspace, the overwhelming majority – 79% - will use their mobile phones for the transaction, whilst the remainder, 21%, will use a desktop or laptop computer.
Unless they already know which specific retailers they will be using, a third of Spanish consumers, according to the survey, will home in on websites advertising special offers or with 'Black Friday' banners, whilst another 31% will take their inspiration from social media.
One in five will consult the retailer newsletters they receive in their inboxes to check for special offers, and 11% will go by friend or family recommendations.
'Red letter' day adventures, restaurants, weekends away...
For those who plan to give someone a gift of an 'experience' rather than an 'object' – or who intend to do so for themselves – the most popular of these, Aladinia's survey reveals, is spa and relaxation breaks – either as short trips away, as a day out, or just a session, with 31% expressing their intention to book these.
Mini-breaks – weekends away or short holidays, in Spain or abroad – account for 23% of 'experiences' shoppers plan to spend money on this 'Black Friday'.
For some, a one-off or 'red letter day' experience or adventure is on their shopping list: Hot-air balloon rides or light aircraft trips in the case of 16%, and other action-packed or bucket-list activities in the case of 13%.
Not all 'experiences' involve thrilling challenges or once-in-a-lifetime events, though: In total, 14% plan to buy packages or vouchers for meals out or other food-related special occasions, Aladinia reveals.
How not to lose money
As always, and despite how it's much safer and more widely used now than when it was first 'invented' at the turn of this century, online shopping still carries some risks. Keeping your cash secure and not falling for scams is vital, and high-street financial entity CaixaBank's advice on the matter remains valid, as do Kutxabank's recommendations on protecting yourself from online fraud. Both these articles cover aspects you may not have thought of, so they're always worth revisiting before starting your purchases.
When shopping either in physical retail premises or on the internet, remember that you as a consumer have certain rights which must be respected – Spanish law does not allow customer service or consumer protections to reduce just because the prices have.
Check out this advice given by the key national consumer organisations, FACUA and the OCU, published at the beginning of 2022 with the January sales in mind, but applicable to sales periods across the board at any time of the year.