Green Monday

What Is Green Monday?

Green Monday refers to one of the retail industry's most profitable days, occurring on the second Monday in December. Green Monday has gained notoriety because it represents the day many online shoppers rush to purchase last-minute gifts and take advantage of deals.

eBay claims to have coined the phrase in 2007 after it realized that the second Monday in December was one of its most profitable sales days. However, some report that it was Shopping.com that coined the phrase. Research company comScore defines the day as one with at least 10 days prior to Christmas. Whatever its origin, this retail event continues to be a marker of holiday sales. 

Understanding Green Monday

Green Monday is promoted by big-box stores and online shopping giants like Amazon and Target. In 2016, Green Monday online sales reached an unprecedented $1.62 billion, according to Statista.

Green Monday is also known as Cyber Monday 2 in retail circles due to the high volume of online shoppers seeking last-minute holiday deals. While some stores actively promote Green Monday, other retailers may simply offer holiday deals on that day to reach holiday shoppers and reduce merchandise before the end of the year. 

Holiday Shipping Deadlines

The "green" in Green Monday may have two references: green for dollars or environmentally green for those who consider online shopping a more eco-friendly endeavor than ratcheting up deals in brick-and-mortar stores. 

If you are shipping your packages, the USPS and UPS websites indicates Dec. 15, 2020, is the last date to send domestic packages using regular ground shipping. USPS Priority Mail and UPS Next Day Air users can wait as late as Dec. 23, 2020. FedEx cut off is Dec. 14, 2020.

Green Monday vs. Black Friday

There is no shortage of catchphrases for the major retail shopping days that occur near the winter holidays. Black Friday describes the Friday after Thanksgiving when many people start their holiday shopping. Most people are off of work and are eager to spend money they've saved all year. Retailers capitalize on the busiest shopping day by offering special sales. Traditionally, sales were exclusive to the Friday after Thanksgiving.

Now some large retailers offer sales before Thanksgiving and for several days thereafter including Small Business Saturday. Some are even attracting customers on Thanksgiving night with the chance to get Black Friday deals early. To gain consumer interest in an increasingly competitive landscape, most retailers advertise their sales before the event, luring shoppers to visit their establishments for deeply-discounted sales and giveaways.

Black Friday has become a festive event in some places, with retailers offering gifts and prizes in a party-like atmosphere.

Green Monday vs. Cyber Monday

Cyber Monday describes the Monday following Thanksgiving when online retailers offer above-average deals to entice consumers to shop online. It is like Black Friday, but for online shoppers. Cyber Monday is now a global phenomenon, and in recent years, sales on that day have exceeded Black Friday sales.

Cyber Monday retailers often simultaneously have Cyber Monday sales occurring at the same time as its Black Friday sales. This tactic targets all types of consumers, those who enjoy the hustle and bustle of Black Friday shopping and also those who prefer to use an online platform for purchases.