Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2024: Trends, Insights, and Smart Shopping Tips

Seattle, WA | November 29, 2024

As the holiday season approaches, Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2024 are set to dominate the retail landscape, offering shoppers incredible deals both in-store and online. These twin events have become iconic moments in retail, each catering to distinct shopping preferences while collectively shaping how brands and consumers interact.

Here’s a comprehensive guide to the latest trends, key insights, and tips to help you make the most of these shopping extravaganzas.

A Look Back at Black Friday 2023

The numbers from Black Friday 2023 highlight shifting consumer behaviors and economic challenges:

• $9.8 billion was spent online during Black Friday.

• 76.2 million people shopped in stores.

• 90.6 million people shopped online.

While the number of shoppers hit record highs, spending only increased by 2.5% year-over-year, failing to keep pace with inflation. Several factors contributed to this trend, including less appealing deals, a more spread-out shopping season, and cautious spending habits.

When Are Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2024?

• Black Friday 2024 falls on Friday, November 29, the day after Thanksgiving. It traditionally kicks off the holiday shopping season with doorbuster deals and in-store excitement.

• Cyber Monday 2024 follows on Monday, December 2, offering online shoppers an opportunity to snag discounts from the comfort of their homes.

Key Trends for 2024

1. Early Access Deals

Retailers have increasingly embraced early access sales, with discounts often starting in early November. This allows shoppers to avoid the rush while spreading out their spending.

2. Sustainability on the Rise

As shoppers grow more eco-conscious, brands promoting sustainable shopping and offering environmentally friendly products are likely to stand out.

3. Tech-Forward Shopping

Expect innovations like augmented reality tools, personalized AI recommendations, and enhanced online experiences to play a significant role in 2024.

4. Luxury Meets Discounts

High-end retailers are expected to participate in Black Friday and Cyber Monday with curated deals, particularly on Cyber Monday.

5. Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) Services

Flexible payment options will continue to grow in popularity, making it easier for consumers to purchase high-ticket items.

Top Categories to Watch

Electronics

Always a highlight of Black Friday, expect deep discounts on TVs, laptops, gaming consoles, and smart home devices.

Fashion and Accessories

Luxury and fast fashion brands will offer significant markdowns, making it an excellent time to refresh your wardrobe.

Home Goods

Kitchen appliances, furniture, and home decor will feature prominently in both Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales.

Travel Deals

Planning a getaway for 2025? Airlines, hotels, and travel platforms are likely to offer enticing deals.

Digital Subscriptions

Cyber Monday is prime time for scoring discounts on streaming services, software, and other digital products.

Tips for Black Friday and Cyber Monday Success

1. Make a Shopping List: Decide what you need beforehand to avoid impulse purchases. Categorize items by priority to ensure you don’t miss out on must-have deals.

2. Set a Budget: Overspending is easy during sales events. Stick to a budget to enjoy the savings without regrets.

3. Research Early: Compare prices across retailers before the sales start. Use price-tracking tools to ensure you’re getting the best deal.

4. Sign Up for Notifications: Subscribe to newsletters and download apps from your favorite retailers for early access to deals and exclusive offers.

5. Plan for Cyber Monday: Bookmark key websites and set reminders for flash sales to stay ahead.

Black Friday vs. Cyber Monday: Which Is Better?

• Black Friday: Best for in-store shopping, large appliances, and tech items. Doorbuster deals are often only available in physical stores.

• Cyber Monday: Ideal for online shopping, smaller electronics, digital products, and niche items. It’s also a better choice for those who prefer avoiding the in-store crowds.

Looking Ahead

Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2024 promise to bring exciting deals, immersive shopping experiences, and significant savings. Whether you're shopping for gifts or treating yourself, these events offer an unparalleled opportunity to save.

Niftmint Launches New Show: "Showroom"

Premiered Tuesday, November 26, 2024

Seattle, WA | November 26, 2024

Niftmint, a leader in tokenized commerce and authenticating products, is proud to announce the launch of its new 30-minute internet show, Showroom. Premiering on Tuesday, November 26, Showroom will dive into the latest trends shaping commerce, retail tech, e-commerce, brands, and pop culture. The show aims to spark conversations about innovation in the industry while exploring the challenges and opportunities of today’s rapidly evolving marketplace.

Hosted by Niftmint Founder Jonathan G. Blanco and Director of Operations Erin Lowe, Showroom offers viewers a conversational deep dive into topics such as:

• Black Friday trends and the transformation of holiday shopping.

• The role of digital twins in authenticating luxury goods and combating counterfeits.

• Innovations in e-commerce, including blockchain-powered solutions for brands.

• The future of consumer trust and sustainability in retail.

The first episode will introduce Niftmint, unveil Stablecoins for Brands, and feature Jonathan and Erin discussing counterfeit products, popular pop culture memes like "Musssssstttttaaaaaarrrrrd," the use of AI in advertising, Black Friday 2024 trends, and the future of commerce.

With its debut just days before Black Friday, Showroom promises timely insights and actionable strategies for brands navigating the busiest shopping season of the year.

About Niftmint: Niftmint is a pioneering tokenized commerce company that helps brands create digital twins of their products for authentication and secure transactions. By leveraging blockchain technology, Niftmint empowers businesses to enhance customer trust, combat counterfeits, and deliver innovative solutions for today’s challenges.

Tune In: Join Showroom on YouTube starting Tuesday, November 26. Don’t miss the chance to explore the future of retail and commerce with industry experts!

Watch the premier here:

Media Contact: Erin Lowe, Director of Operations, Niftmint, erin@niftmint.com (206) 790-3994

Niftmint Launches New Show: "Showroom"

Niftmint launches new show: "Showroom'

Introducing Stablecoins for Brands and Enterprise: A New Era of Loyalty, Payments, and Operations by Niftmint

Seattle, WA | November 18, 2024

Niftmint’s Stablecoins for Brands and Enterprise

In the ever-evolving digital economy, brands and enterprises face mounting challenges: enhancing customer loyalty, optimizing vendor payments, managing global operations, and delivering seamless customer experiences. Enter Niftmint’s Stablecoins for Brands, a transformative solution designed to revolutionize how businesses engage with customers, pay suppliers, and manage internal and external operations.

With our innovative stablecoin offering, businesses can now integrate blockchain-powered efficiency, flexibility, and security into every facet of their operations, ensuring real-world value for their stakeholders.

What Niftmint Already Does

At Niftmint, we’ve been empowering brands with tools to tokenize digital and physical assets, seamlessly integrating blockchain technology into existing systems. From creating digital products and twins to enabling secure, authenticated engagement, we’ve partnered with leading enterprises to make tokenization simple, effective, and on-brand.

Stablecoins for Brands is a natural extension of this vision. By addressing core operational needs, from loyalty rewards to payments, this offering solidifies Niftmint as the ultimate tokenization platform for brands and enterprises, unlocking the full potential of blockchain without the complexity of cryptocurrency.

The Niftmint Advantage: Stablecoins for Brands

Our stablecoin solutions are more than just a payment tool—they are a holistic business solution. Here’s how Niftmint empowers brands:

1. Loyalty Rewards

Delight your customers with loyalty points that hold real-world value. With Niftmint’s stablecoin rewards:

• Customers can earn coins through purchases, referrals, or engagement activities.

• Coins are redeemable across your ecosystem or with partner brands.

• Customers retain the flexibility to convert their coins to cash, offering unparalleled freedom and value.

  
  

2. Paying Suppliers and Vendors

Streamline supplier payments using stablecoins:

• Instant Cross-Border Transactions: Eliminate delays and high fees associated with traditional payment methods.

• Global Reach: Handle payments in different regions without worrying about currency conversions.

• Transparent Tracking: Blockchain ensures every transaction is traceable, reducing reconciliation complexities.

  
  

3. Internal Divisions

Simplify financial operations within your organization:

• Seamlessly transfer funds across global teams, subsidiaries, and divisions.

• Real-Time Transactions: Ensure instant access to resources, enabling agile business operations.

• Consolidate treasury operations with a unified currency.

  
  

4. Employee Rewards and Compensation

Motivate and reward your workforce with stablecoins:

• Offer bonuses, incentives, or even partial salaries in stablecoins.

• Employees can redeem coins for real-world value or unique experiences.

• Simplify global payroll with direct, efficient payments to international teams.

  
  

5. Customer Refunds

Transform the refund experience into a competitive advantage:

• Issue instant refunds in stablecoins, eliminating the frustration of waiting for traditional payment processors.

• Customers gain flexibility to reuse refunds within your ecosystem or elsewhere, driving loyalty and satisfaction.

  
  

6. Pay-As-You-Go Models

Enable precise, flexible pricing structures:

• Support on-demand services, subscriptions, or microtransactions without hidden fees.

• Perfect for innovative business models that require precise, low-cost payment methods.

  
  

For Brands and Enterprises

Stablecoins for Brands isn't just a solution for what you're asking for—it’s a solution for what you should be asking for. While brands may not yet recognize the term “stablecoins” as part of their operational vocabulary, the challenges they face—such as fragmented loyalty programs, expensive cross-border payments, and disconnected financial systems—align perfectly with what this technology solves.

Here’s how stablecoins meet these needs:

• Unified Systems: Stablecoins provide brands with a single, scalable currency for loyalty, payments, and operations, eliminating the silos created by traditional systems.

• Cost Efficiency: Brands can save on processing fees, currency conversions, and reconciliation costs, especially in global operations.

• Customer Satisfaction: Flexible loyalty points and instant refunds create unparalleled customer experiences, building trust and retention.

• Employee Empowerment: Offer meaningful incentives that employees value, driving engagement and loyalty.

• Future-Ready Solutions: As digital-first economies grow, stablecoins position brands to stay ahead of the curve.

  
  

By adopting stablecoins, enterprises gain a tool that solves existing pain points while opening new possibilities, ensuring they are future-proof in an increasingly competitive landscape.

Why Stablecoins for Brands?

Niftmint’s solution bridges the gap between traditional business operations and blockchain’s potential. Here’s why stablecoins are the future for brands:

• Flexibility: From loyalty programs to supplier payments, stablecoins adapt to multiple use cases.

• Transparency: Blockchain ensures every transaction is secure, traceable, and tamper-proof.

• Cost Efficiency: Reduce fees for cross-border payments, refunds, and microtransactions.

• Global Scalability: Operate seamlessly across geographies with a unified currency.

• Real-World Value: Offer customers and employees a tangible, trustworthy currency.

Offering Yield to Customers Through Stablecoins

Brands can transform their stablecoin rewards programs by offering customers the ability to earn yield on their holdings. Instead of traditional loyalty points that depreciate or remain static, brands can empower customers to grow their rewards over time. By integrating yield-generating mechanisms, such as staking or lending within secure DeFi platforms, brands allow customers to "park" their stablecoins and earn interest. This not only incentivizes customers to stay engaged with the brand ecosystem but also turns loyalty programs into an asset-building opportunity. For example, a customer who redeems stablecoins for holding rewards could see their balance grow month over month, deepening loyalty and creating a sense of shared value between the brand and its customers. This innovative approach redefines customer engagement, positioning the brand as both forward-thinking and customer-centric.

How Existing Stablecoins Offer Yield

Many existing stablecoins, such as USDC, DAI, and USDT, already offer yield opportunities through integration with Decentralized Finance (DeFi) platforms and centralized exchanges. These platforms allow users to stake, lend, or pool their stablecoins, generating returns typically ranging from 2% to 12% annually, depending on the protocol and market conditions. For example, platforms like Aave or Compound enable stablecoin holders to lend their assets to others, earning interest on their holdings, while staking on exchanges like Binance or Coinbase provides consistent returns. This yield potential transforms stablecoins into dynamic financial tools, moving beyond their primary role as a transactional currency. With Niftmint, Brands can leverage these existing frameworks to design yield-generating stablecoin programs, bringing these same benefits to their customers while enhancing loyalty and engagement within their ecosystem.

How It Works

1. Earn: Customers, employees, or divisions earn stablecoins through purchases, rewards, or transactions.

2. Store: Coins are securely stored in a digital wallet integrated with your existing systems.

3. Redeem: Coins can be redeemed for products, services, or even converted into fiat currency.

4. Track: Brands gain real-time insights into how coins are used, unlocking valuable data for business optimization.

   
   

Why Choose Niftmint?

At Niftmint, we specialize in creating blockchain-powered solutions that are:

• User-Friendly: Abstracting the complexity of blockchain for a seamless experience.

• Secure: Ensuring every transaction meets the highest security standards.

• Compliant: Aligning with financial regulations to protect your business.

Our expertise in integrating blockchain with enterprise systems makes us the ideal partner for brands looking to embrace stablecoins.

Ready to Transform Your Brand?

Niftmint’s Stablecoins for Brands offer a comprehensive, scalable solution to modern business challenges. Whether it’s enhancing customer loyalty, streamlining payments, or optimizing operations, our technology empowers brands to operate more efficiently while delivering value at every touchpoint.

Get started today and take the first step toward the future of business. Learn More About Stablecoins for Brands