The 5th annual Free Shipping Day, a one-day shopping event during which participating merchants offer free shipping with delivery by Christmas Eve, is scheduled for Monday, December 17, 2012. FreeShippingDay.com already features more than 900 participating merchants, with new retailers added daily. In addition to big-name brands like Kohl’s, Express, Lands’ End, Home Depot and Harry & David, the event features Etsy artisans and other small businesses. Stores can still sign up for Free Shipping Day through their merchant sign-up page.
Black Friday sales exceeded $1 billion for the first time ever, and Cyber Monday’s record-breaking sales increased 30 percent over last year, according to comScore. Even more, Adobe Systems predicts the best is yet to come, indicating the “largest price reductions are expected to come on Free Shipping Day (Dec. 17), when many retailers offer free shipping to boost sales.”
This is encouraging news for Luke Knowles, creator of Free Shipping Day. “Free Shipping Day has exceeded Black Friday’s online sales over the past two years,” says Knowles. “I’m excited about our prospects this year since most consumers complete their holiday shopping closer to Christmas.”
For the first time in the event’s history, Free Shipping Day is scheduled on a Monday, which also contributes to Knowles’ confidence about the event. “Monday is typically the busiest online shopping day of the week,” continues Knowles. “That’s part of the reason Cyber Monday does so well.”