Cost of living front of mind this Black Friday, as 73% of Europeans think more carefully about what they buy, finds Adevinta

• New research finds that 1 in 3 (32%) European consumers don’t plan to buy new products this Black Friday. But 40% are still in the mood to shop.
• While cost is the main factor impacting spending, over half (54%) think more carefully about what they buy because of the climate crisis.
  
  

20 November 2023: Conscious consumerism is set to influence Black Friday shopping in Europe, as the cost of living and growing climate concerns cause people to reconsider their shopping habits. That’s according to new research from Adevinta, the leading online classifieds group, which counts leboncoin (FR), Kleinanzeigen (DE), Marktplaats (NL), Milanuncios (ES) and Subito (IT) amongst its European re-commerce marketplaces.

In a survey of 5,000 European consumers across Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Netherlands and Belgium, Adevinta found that while 40% of respondents are planning to buy new products this Black Friday, a third (32%) are not planning to buy anything new.

Buying intentions vary strongly across markets, with consumers in Italy (48%) and Spain (44%) the most likely to be planning a purchase this Black Friday, compared to just 38% of consumers in Benelux, 37% in Germany and 32% in France. 

Cost of living driving more considered shopping
In the current economic climate, concerns about cost are understandably having an important impact on people’s shopping behaviours. Three quarters (73%) of European consumers say they think more carefully about what they buy these days, because of the increased costs of living.

In fact, the research reveals that amongst those not planning on buying anything new this Black Friday, 3 in 10 (30%) say they are restricting spending due to the rising cost of living.

Consumers more conscious of climate
Many consumers are also trying to reduce their environmental impact, as over half (54%) say they think more carefully about what they buy these days because of the climate crisis. This rises to 59% of consumers in Italy and 57% of those in France.

Climate consciousness is impacting Black Friday shopping intentions as well. Amongst those not planning to shop at all this Black Friday, over a fifth (22%) say it’s because they believe Black Friday drives consumerism, while nearly 1 in 10 (8%) say they prefer to buy second-hand.

Paul Heimann, Head of Re-Commerce for Adevinta, and CEO of Kleinanzeigen, commented: “Black Friday has gained a lot of popularity in Europe over the last decade, and we can see that there is still plenty of enthusiasm for this retail event, more so in certain markets, such Italy and Spain. However, this data suggests that the climate and cost of living crisis are causing people to be much more considered about their purchases – not just this Black Friday, but more generally as well. 

“Re-commerce marketplaces like ours offer consumers more sustainable and more affordable ways to buy year-round, so it’s no surprise that many people already prefer to shop second-hand. In recognition of this, over the past few years we have run a counter campaign called ‘Green Sunday’ at our German marketplace Kleinanzeigen, to highlight the environmental benefits of purchasing used items over new. ”

Retailers’ reputations at stake
Black Friday is also battling a reputational issue in Europe, with many consumers sceptical of whether promised deals are truly a bargain. Over a third (34%) of consumers say they think Black Friday is a scam, and nearly 1 in 4 (23%) of those not planning to buy anything new this Black Friday say they believe most of the Black Friday deals are fake. Meanwhile, half (51%) of consumers say they respect retailers and ecommerce platforms that don’t observe Black Friday.

ENDS

For more information, contact:
firstlight group
adevinta@firstlightgroup.io
+44 (0)20 3617 7240

Methodology

5323 nationally representative adult respondents across Germany, Spain, France, Italy and Benelux were surveyed online between 9th and 12th October 2023. Research was commissioned by Adevinta and conducted by market research consultancy Censuswide.

About Adevinta

Adevinta is a leading online classifieds group and champion for sustainable commerce with a focus on Europe. 

Our portfolio of 25+ digital marketplaces spans consumer goods, mobility, real estate, holiday rentals and jobs. Every month, our industry-leading technology enables more than 120 million people and over a million businesses across Europe to connect and trade. Loved local brands include leboncoin in France; mobile.de and Kleinanzeigen in Germany; Fotocasa and InfoJobs in Spain, Subito in Italy; Marktplaats in the Netherlands and the Canadian marketplace Kijiji. 

Our international team of diverse individuals are united in their purpose to make a positive impact on the environment, the economy and society every single day. 

To find out more, visit Adevinta.com. 

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