This year’s Black Friday may have been more orderly than in previous years, but it largely resembled a typical shopping day, according to retail and consumer groups who said the event once again fell short of expectations.
Both business owners and shoppers reported a continued decline in Black Friday’s impact in Cyprus, attributing it mainly to poor implementation and a lack of substantial discounts.
‘No Attractive Offers,’ says POVEK
Stefanos Koursaris, Secretary General of the Cyprus Confederation of Professional Craftsmen and Shopkeepers (POVEK), described this year’s Black Friday as “subdued,” noting that unlike previous years, the promotion did not start early.
He said most offers were between 20% and 30%, the same discounts commonly available throughout the year.
“There were no attractive offers,” Koursaris said, adding that the biggest reductions applied mainly to old stock — something consumers recognised and found disappointing.
Large retail chains, he noted, had largely excluded new-season merchandise ahead of the Christmas period.
Koursaris added that although consumer activity rose slightly because people had just received their salaries, the prevalence of year-round promotions has undermined the purpose of designated sales periods.
“People no longer expect major discounts from a particular store. Anyone can hold a sale at any time,” he said.
Call for Clear Legislation on Sales Periods
POVEK continues to push for the introduction of a legal framework regulating discount periods.
“In 17 European countries, sales periods are fixed. In Cyprus, tolerance leads to misleading practices and shortages,” Koursaris said.
He also argued that shopping malls have competitive advantages — such as extended opening hours, better infrastructure, and stronger promotional capabilities — placing small businesses at a disadvantage.
Even so, he noted that many small and medium-sized retailers have adapted by investing in specialisation, personalised service and online sales.
Ahead of Christmas, Koursaris urged retailers to “be honest,” stressing that real discounts help maintain consumer trust. “The customer is not a number,” he added.
Consumers’ Association “ One in Three Shoppers Made a Purchase”
Consumers’ Association President Marios Drousiotis described this year’s Black Friday as “better than last year,” though still far from impressive.
Conducting the Association’s usual on-site survey at a large technology retailer, he said that of 135 customers who entered the store in one hour, only 30 left with a shopping bag.
“That means just one in three made a purchase,” Drousiotis said.
Many shoppers reportedly abandoned their visit quickly after failing to find the products they were looking for. Others browsed without a specific purchase in mind.
Complaints: Inflated Prices and Exchange Issues
Drousiotis said the Association received six to eight complaints this year.
Half involved allegations of inflated prices on Black Friday, while the others concerned purchases made shortly before the event that could not be exchanged due to lower Black Friday prices — a scenario not protected by law.
‘Black Friday Is Declining Because of Sellers’
According to Drousiotis, the event is losing significance because retailers are not offering the significant markdowns consumers expect.
He said many shops applied reductions only to selected items while excluding new products entirely.
To restore trust in the event, Drousiotis suggested offering genuinely higher discounts, eliminating misleading practices, and curbing opportunistic behaviour that damages the market’s credibility.
Tips for Christmas Shoppers
Drousiotis offered two key pieces of advice for consumers preparing for Christmas shopping:
Don’t buy products you don’t need — even if the discount seems tempting.
Always compare prices before purchasing.
“Sometimes the so-called discounted price is higher than the regular price at another store,” he warned.
( Source: CNA)
