HAS BLACK FRIDAY OUTLIVED ITS USEFULNESS?
At this point, Black Friday requires no introduction. The uniquely American shopping phenomenon has spread across the globe to countries who have no idea what Thanksgiving is or why turkeys find themselves in such peril at this time of year. And yet, while Black Friday is a bigger event than ever, its fundamental purpose – to drive people into stores and malls on their day off – seems to be waning as more and more shoppers turn to online options. Thus Cyber Monday, the day dedicated to those online days
With that in mind, researchers at Unanimous AI turned to their Swarm AI platform for insight into the mindset of the Black Friday shopper. This system amplifies the intelligence of any group, in this case yielding deep revelations about public sentiment around Black Friday and beyond. This swarm was composed of over thirty American shoppers who gathered in the Swarm AI platform earlier this week. First, our researchers wanted to know, what best explains why shoppers continue to spend in droves on Black Friday? Is it the discounts, the tradition, the frenzy of the “holiday” or something else?
As you can see, the swam revealed its conviction that the discounts remain the best reason for people to spend their Friday off shopping. That said, if you’re looking into the psyche of the Black Friday shopper, it’s worth wondering if all of these sales are a reason for joy, or for stress. Everyone loves saving money, but is the net result positive or negative? To find out, our researchers asked the swarm to consider how Black Friday makes most shoppers feel:
Here the swarm uncovers what could be a frightening truth for shops and retailers looking to capitalize on Black Friday – at this point, the “holiday” seems to create more stress than it does excitement. Naturally, the lingering question is whether or not those negative associations will affect stores’ bottom line. To find out, our research team challenged the swarm to forecast some of the major markers of Black Friday’s effect on the economy. You can see those results – and links to all of the associated swarms – in the chart below.
Just for fun, our researchers also asked the Holiday Swarm to weigh in on some of the best – and worst – parts about Thanksgiving. That short set of insights is available below.
Want to learn more about our Swarm AI technology? Check out our TED talk below…
Every week Unanimous A. I. brings together swarms of regular people just like you to help us predict sporting events, investment opportunities, and technology as well as provide insight into everything from pop culture to politics. If you’d like information on joining a swarm – or just want to stay up to date on the latest predictions – click the button below.
