The timing of Black Friday clashes in the Netherlands with sinterklaas celebrations. Because Sinterklaas evening follows so quickly after the bargain day, there is a high chance of delays in the logistics chain. Huub Vermeulen of bol.com therefore advocates moving Black Friday.
Black Friday not convenient in the Netherlands
In newspaper Trouw, the general manager of bol.com says that the platform, together with other online shops, is making every effort to organise a Dutch Black Friday at an earlier time. "The American holiday Thanksgiving now determines when it is Black Friday, namely the first Friday after. That is a convenient time for Americans because then they can already do their Christmas shopping. But in the Netherlands and Belgium, it's not convenient at all because of eve." Last year, the rush around Black Friday caused delays in delivery.
This year, too, the chances of delays are high because immediately after Black Friday is the Monday before Sinterklaas, which is usually the busiest day for bol.com before New Year's Eve. That can cause problems in logistics over the weekend. "You run the risk of delays in the chain of supplier, warehouse and home delivery."
Discount week
Bol.com wants to influence buying behaviour to start offering discounts earlier. This year, it offered the first discounts on 22 November under the banner Black Friday. "Hopefully, in a few years' time, the first day of the discount week around Black Friday will be so important that you won't need the US Black Friday anymore. In that way, it should be possible to shift buying behaviour forward. One way we do that is by offering discounts at the beginning of the week that are no longer there on Black Friday itself," Vermeulen let Trouw record.
Vermeulen hopes the competition will do the same next year. "Then we will have gained a week and will have our own Dutch Black Friday, at a pleasant distance from Sinterklaas."
