Black Friday has also established itself as one of the most important days for online retail in Switzerland – this is confirmed by the transaction volumes of this year's Black Friday, November 29. However, another clear trend is emerging this year: sales records are already being set on the Thursday before the actual Black Friday. Thus, not only is Black Friday itself gaining traction, but the entire Black Week is becoming an established sales period.

Record Figures at a Glance: Black Friday and Black Week 2024

Data analysis from Payrexx shows that Black Friday and the entire Black Week offer immense sales potential if merchants act in time.

The key facts:

• 82 percent more sales on Black Friday compared to the Friday of the previous week – a significant increase in consumption.

• 23 percent higher shopping cart value on Black Friday 2024 compared to the daily average of the two weeks prior.

• Long-term trend: Compared to Black Friday 2020, sales had grown by 16.8 percent by 2024.

• Early starting offers: Already the Thursday before Black Friday is one of the highest-grossing days of the week.

• Increased willingness to buy: Consumers aim to spend up to 400 francs on Black Friday and plan their purchases specifically for this day.

The following graphic illustrates the transaction volume in a weekly comparison and shows that sales figures during Black Week are significantly higher compared to the previous week, with the highest sales being achieved on Thursday and Friday of Black Week. The data makes it clear: merchants who start their offers early can fully exploit the potential of Black Week.

Transaction volume in week 47 (week before Black Friday) and week 48 (Black Week)

The overall increase in revenue since 2020 on Black Friday as well as the rising shopping cart values again show that consumers are willing to spend more money and focus their purchases on this time. According to an analysis by Bring Labs and the Swiss Retail Federation, consumers are even willing to spend around 400 francs on Black Friday 2024.

The following chart shows the upward trend in online sales in recent years. The average transaction volume per online merchant has been increasing with a median sales growth of nearly 6% per year since 2020.

Average transaction volume from 2020 to 2024 (comparison Black Friday / previous Friday)

Buying Behavior: When and What is Bought?

A look at the times of purchase in the following graphic shows clear peak sales times: Most transactions were made between 8 and 11 a.m. and between 2 and 3 p.m. These times are particularly relevant for merchants who want to strategically place their offers and utilize the demand in these peak hours.

Time analysis of the number of transactions on 22.11.2024 and 29.11.2024

According to Statista, consumers were especially interested in products from the categories technology/electronics and fashion during Black Friday week. Other popular categories included furniture, cosmetics, toys, and health. With discounts in these categories, online merchants can particularly score points with their clientele.

Payment Behavior: How is Online Payment Made?

The most frequently used payment methods for online purchases on Black Friday 2024 reflect the increasing variety and preferences of consumers. The trend towards fast, secure, and flexible payment options is particularly evident.

• TWINT: 59.3 percent of purchases were made with TWINT. This Swiss payment method is particularly popular in Switzerland as it provides a fast, secure, and convenient payment option via smartphone – simply via QR code, without needing a card.

• Credit and debit cards: 34 percent paid with credit or debit cards. These payment methods are thus among the most popular again this year as they enable fast and secure payment processing.

• Digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay: Convenience and simplicity make these options particularly attractive for consumers who want a fast and secure transaction.

• Purchase on account: This method is increasingly popular as consumers only pay after receiving the goods.

• Real-time transfer: Especially consumers from Germany prefer the direct transfer from a bank account as these transactions are very fast and secure.

For online merchants looking to optimize their payment processes, the Swiss payment provider Payrexx offers a solution that integrates all common payment methods such as credit cards, digital wallets, Pay by Bank, purchase on account, as well as national options like TWINT and PostFinance. Thus, merchants can address a broad target audience and benefit from smooth payment processing – for instance during peak times on Black Friday.

In addition, Payrexx offers special e-commerce tools like Paylink and QR Pay, which are also useful beyond Black Friday. With Paylink, merchants can easily send invoices via a link and QR Pay allows for quick payments via QR code – perfect for on-site transactions.

Interested merchants can register for free at any time and test all features of Payrexx free for 30 days.

Data Collection

The Swiss payment provider Payrexx conducted the present data collection with 1120 SME companies. This included merchants from various industries such as event services, classic online shops, health services, education, and gastronomy.

The data refers to transactions processed through the Payrexx platform. The time period measured was from 18.11.2024 to 1.12.2024, between 0:00 and 23:59.