In Cyprus, the Black Friday sales event has caused different opinions in the retail industry. Shopping centres and small business groups do not agree about how successful it was or if customers liked it.
Large shopping malls reported good results. For example, the Mall of Cyprus said that this year, more people came to shop and they were more excited to buy things. The marketing director, Giorgos Pissis, said this was because shops offered better discounts, sometimes up to 60% off on items like electronics and clothes. He explained that having these big discounts for just one day made people feel a sense of urgency to buy.
However, the group that represents small shopkeepers, called Povek, has a different view. Its Secretary General, Stefanos Koursaris, said that Black Friday in Cyprus is not like the event in other countries. He stated that discounts here are often only 20-30%, and bigger price cuts are usually for old stock. This means that many customers feel disappointed because they expected better bargains.
Another problem is that many businesses save their newest products for the Christmas sales. So, during Black Friday, shoppers often cannot find the latest items. This makes the event less attractive for many people.
Consumer protection groups also gave advice to shoppers. They told people to check prices carefully, understand the return policies, and make sure the shop offers help if there is a problem.
In the end, the different opinions about Black Friday show a bigger discussion in Cyprus about sales culture, global traditions, and what customers really want.