Black Friday 2024 proved a significant period for the UK furnishings sector, with data indicating strong consumer engagement and spending. According to GlobalData, 62% of shoppers made a purchase during the event, surpassing pre-pandemic levels, and 40.7% spent more than the previous year. Adobe reported that £117.2 million was spent via Buy Now Pay Later services, representing 10.5% of online sales for the day, a 15.6% increase on 2023.
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IMRG's analysis highlighted that 63% of retailers extended their Black Friday campaigns, nearly half starting earlier and 39% running them later, effectively turning the event into a month-long "Black November." For home furnishings, sales rose 5.1% over the period, with budget and mid-market items showing growth while premium products declined 15.2%. Garden furniture recorded the highest increase at 8.8%.
Despite higher conversion rates online, average basket abandonment remained 65%, and engagement time on websites dropped from 127.1 seconds in 2023 to 116.1 seconds in 2024. Bounce rates also increased from 18.7% to 24.3%, suggesting cautious spending or underwhelming deals.
With Black Friday 2025 approaching, retailers in the furnishings sector are advised to participate strategically, using insights from previous years to optimise campaigns and customer engagement.
Source: www.bigfurnituregroup.com