CYBER MONDAY AIMS TO KEEP RETAILERS’ SALES MOMENTUM GOING

At first it is an idea.  Then it becomes a fad.  The fad develops into a trend.  Finally, it becomes an institution.  It is hard to say exactly where on this spectrum Cyber Monday falls, but make no mistake it is very real. 

By all reports, retail sales are up for 2007’s day-after-Thanksgiving binge.  This was somewhat of a surprise to many speculators and eased the fears of many investors.  Based in part on this rosy outcome and the fact that more and more people are comfortable shopping online, speculation has been that Cyber Monday would attract more online shoppers than last year. 

Shop.org found in their eHoliday survey that 72.2% of online retailers were planning to offer some sort of special Cyber Monday promotion.  This figure, up from 42.7% the year before, is a further indication that Cyber Monday is beginning to take on a life of its own. 

In a somewhat disturbing trend for employers, it appears that the main reason for the origination of Cyber Monday (as well as its continued proliferation) is that it is the day after a long holiday and many employees will take advantage of their at-work Internet access to do some holiday shopping. 

Online spending for the day after Thanksgiving topped $530 million which is an increase of 22% from last year according to comScore.com.  Many are hopeful that Cyber Monday online sales will surpass the $700 million mark. 

Another contributing factor to the growth of online sales is the continued expansion of goods and services offered online.  Gone are the days when only tie for Dad and a hat for Mom are available.  Everything from spa getaways to hot-air balloon rides are now available online. 

An interesting option that appears to be gaining popularity around the country is car clubs.  These clubs allow their members to access exotic cars for a fraction of the cost and hassle of outright ownership.  www.exoticcarclubs.com offers a directory of car clubs nationwide.  DFW Elite Car Club is one such club located in Dallas/Ft. Worth.  It offers a huge inventory of exotic automobiles for its members to choose from and has several different tiers of membership to accommodate almost any budget. 

Also available online are car rentals.  I’m not just talking about your run of the mill Dodge Stratus, but exotics.  Rentexoticcars.net offers a nationwide directory of businesses that rent exotic cars for short-term use.  DFW Elite Auto Rental services the Dallas/Ft. Worth area and boasts an impressive garage of automobile and, in keeping with the season, offers internet specials. 

For the ultimate online car-oriented gift, consumers should consider giving an exotic car tour.  These tours allow participants to enjoy several exotic cars on a day-long cruise with a group of fellow car lovers.  These tours are common in cities like Las Vegas, New York and Chicago.  DFW Drive Your Dream is unique in that it offers exotic car tours all throughout Texas and offers participants the choice of several different car packages.  Check out these car tour videos for more information. 

Written by G.D. Gregory.  If you are interested in having me write stories for you or seeing my portfolio, please contact me at ggpsu@yahoo.com.