Sensormatic Solutions, the leading global retail solutions portfolio of Johnson Controls, has announced its predictions for the busiest shopping days of the 2023 holiday season. In the United States, Black Friday (Nov. 24), Super Saturday (Dec. 23), and the third Saturday in Dec. (Dec. 16) are expected to be the busiest shopping days of the season. The annual predictions for the global top busiest shopping days were compiled by Sensormatic Solutions retail traffic consulting and analytics group.
“Retailers around the world are likely to have another strong holiday season this year,” said Tony D’Onofrio, president at Sensormatic Solutions. “Those looking to make the most of it can use our predictions as a guide—but it’s critical that retailers also leverage internal data and analytics tools to refine their approach to promotions, staffing, and customer experience in November and December. It’s this additional insight that will put businesses two steps ahead entering the New Year.”
On average, the top 10 busiest shopping days in the United States account for approximately 40% of all holiday retail traffic. Sensormatic Solutions predicts U.S. in-store traffic will likely moderate slightly compared to 2022, with forecasts indicating a year-over-year drop of no more than 3.5%—results that are in line with 2023’s retail traffic performance to date. Overall, traffic this year has been down an average of 2% from last year.
“Historical data will be extremely valuable for retailers preparing their 2023 holiday strategies,” said Brian Field, global leader of retail consulting and analytics at Sensormatic Solutions, whose team predicts the top busiest days of the holiday season. “Christmas Day falls on a Monday this year, so retailers can look to data from 2017—the last time the holiday fell on Monday—to tailor their strategies. Our national data indicates that the busiest days of the season are likely to be more concentrated toward the end of the year thanks to this timing. However, in addition to the list below, we expect Veterans’ Day to experience higher traffic than usual as it falls on a Saturday and history indicates a traffic bump when it does so.”
The full list of predicted busiest shopping days in the United States is as follows:
- Friday, Nov. 24 – Black Friday
- Saturday, Dec. 23 – Super Saturday
- Saturday, Dec. 16 – Third Saturday in December
- Friday, Dec. 22 – Friday before Christmas
- Saturday, Nov. 25 – Saturday after Black Friday
- Tuesday, Dec. 26 – Boxing Day
- Saturday, Dec. 9 – Second Saturday in December
- Saturday, Dec. 2 – First Saturday in December
- Saturday, Dec. 30 – Saturday after Christmas
- Sunday, Dec. 17 – Sunday before Christmas Eve
The predicted top busiest shopping days globally include:
| AustraliaTuesday, Dec. 26 – Boxing DaySaturday, Dec. 23 – Super SaturdayFriday, Dec. 22 – Friday before ChristmasThursday, Dec. 28 – Thursday after ChristmasThursday, Dec. 21 – Thursday before Christmas | BrazilFriday, Nov. 24 – Black FridaySaturday, Dec. 23 – Super SaturdaySaturday, Nov. 25 – Saturday after Black FridayFriday, Dec. 22 – Friday before ChristmasSaturday, Dec. 16 – Third Saturday in December | CanadaTuesday, Dec. 26 – Boxing DayFriday, Nov. 24 – Black FridaySaturday, Dec. 23 – Super SaturdaySaturday, Nov. 25 – Saturday after Black FridaySaturday, Dec. 16 – Third Saturday in December |
| ChinaSunday, Dec. 31 – New Year’s EveWednesday, Feb. 14 – Chinese New Year HolidaySunday, Dec. 24 – Christmas EveMonday, Jan. 1 – New Year’s DayMonday, Feb. 12 – Chinese New Year Holiday | ColombiaSaturday, Dec. 23 – Super SaturdaySaturday, Dec. 16 – Third Saturday in DecemberFriday, Dec. 22 – Friday before ChristmasSunday, Dec. 17 – Sunday before Christmas EveFriday, Nov. 24 – Black Friday | Costa RicaSaturday, Dec. 23 – Super SaturdaySaturday, Dec. 16 – Third Saturday in DecemberSunday, Dec. 17 – Sunday before Christmas EveFriday, Dec. 22 – Friday before ChristmasSaturday, Dec. 9 – Second Saturday in December |
| FranceSaturday, Jan. 13 – First Saturday of les soldes d’hiverSaturday, Jan. 20 – Second Saturday of les soldes d’hiverSaturday, Dec. 23 – Super SaturdaySaturday, Nov. 25 – Saturday after Black FridaySaturday, Dec. 16 – Third Saturday in December | GermanySaturday, Dec. 23 – Super SaturdaySaturday, Dec. 16 – Third Saturday in DecemberSaturday, Dec. 9 – Second Saturday in DecemberSaturday, Dec. 2 – First Saturday in DecemberSaturday, Nov. 25 – Saturday after Black Friday | Hong KongSunday, Dec. 24 – Christmas EveSaturday, Dec. 23 – Super SaturdayWednesday, Feb. 14 – Chinese New Year HolidaySaturday, Dec. 16 – Third Saturday in DecemberSunday, Dec. 31 – New Year’s Eve |
| ItalySaturday, Jan. 6 – EpiphanySunday, Jan. 7 – Day after EpiphanySunday, Nov. 26 – Sunday after Black FridaySunday, Dec. 17 – Sunday Before Christmas EveSunday, Jan. 14 – Second Sunday after Epiphany | MexicoSunday, Nov. 19 – Sunday of Buen FinSaturday, Nov. 18 – Saturday of Buen FinSaturday, Dec. 23 – Super SaturdaySunday, Dec. 17 – Sunday Before Christmas EveMonday, Nov. 20 – Monday of Buen Fin | New ZealandTuesday, Dec. 26 – Boxing DaySaturday, Dec. 23 – Super SaturdayFriday, Dec. 22 – Friday before ChristmasThursday, Dec. 21 – Thursday before ChristmasWednesday, Dec. 27 – Day after Boxing Day |
| SingaporeSunday, Dec. 24 – Christmas EveSunday, Dec. 31 – New Year’s EveMonday, Dec. 25 – Christmas DaySaturday, Jan. 13 – Second Saturday of the yearSaturday, Jan. 6 – Post-New Year’s Day Saturday | South AfricaFriday, Nov. 24 – Black FridaySaturday, Nov. 25 – Saturday after Black FridaySaturday, Dec. 23 – Super SaturdayFriday, Dec. 22 – Friday before ChristmasSaturday, Dec. 16 – Third Saturday in December | SpainWednesday, Jan. 3 – Pre-Epiphany WednesdayThursday, Jan. 4 – Pre-Epiphany ThursdayTuesday, Jan. 2 – Pre-Epiphany TuesdaySaturday, Nov. 25 – Saturday after Black FridaySunday, Jan. 7 – Day after Epiphany |
| United Kingdom/IrelandSaturday, Dec. 23 – Super SaturdaySaturday, Dec. 16 – Third Saturday in DecemberSaturday, Nov. 25 – Saturday after Black FridaySaturday, Dec. 9 – Second Saturday in DecemberSaturday, Dec. 2 – First Saturday in December |
