Competition was fierce during Cyber Week, however, the clear winners were those retailers that stayed in-stock and offered assortments at the best price points.
That’s according to the third annual “Holiday Season Report” from Ugam. The managed analytics firm collected and analyzed detailed assortment and pricing information among Amazon, Best Buy, Jet.com, Target, Toys "R" Us and Walmart during Thanksgiving week, from Nov. 24-28, 2016.
Analysis revealed which companies were selling specific products, and at what price. For example, Amazon had the highest availability of the top 100 trending electronics, carrying more than 95% of the sample during the Thanksgiving to Cyber Monday period.
Target.com had the lowest availability, carrying less than 65% of the same sample set. Among the trending electronics in the sample were Samsung 4K TVs, Apple iPads and iPhones, Amazon's E-readers and tablets, and Fitbit activity trackers.
As expected, Amazon was also the lowest-price leader, offering the lowest or same as lowest prices on more than 63% of the sample electronics on Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday. BestBuy.com was the least price competitive during the analysis period, offering the lowest or same as lowest prices on less than 25% of the same sample set, the study said, adding that average prices for sample electronics that were available across all the five retailers were the lowest on Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 24).
Meanwhile, Jet.com, Walmart’s newest acquisition, had the highest number of products that were out-of-stock during the Thanksgiving to Cyber Monday period. Out of the sample products it carried, 20% went out-of-stock on Thanksgiving, 19% on Black Friday, and 32% on Cyber Monday.
When it came to the toy category, Amazon had the highest availability of the top 100 trending sample toys, carrying all 100 throughout the Thanksgiving to Cyber Monday period. Again, Jet had the lowest availability, carrying only 59% of the same sample set. Among the trending toys in the sample were Hatchimals by Spin Master, Hasbro Speak Out Game, and LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar, the study revealed.
When looking at specific sale days, Amazon and Walmart.com were the lowest-price leaders on Thanksgiving, offering the lowest prices on 55% of the sample toys available on both web sites. Amazon continued to offer the lowest prices on more than 60% of its sample toy assortment on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Toys "R" Us was least price competitive throughout the analysis period, offering the lowest or same as lowest prices on less than 16% of the sample set, data revealed.
Like electronics, Jet had the highest number of products that were out-of-stock during the Thanksgiving to Cyber Monday period. Out of the sample products it carried, 14% went out-of-stock on Thanksgiving, 10% on Black Friday, and 22% on Cyber Monday. Interestingly, average prices for sample toys that were available across all five retailers were the lowest on Nov. 26.
“Near real-time, data-driven insights can help retailers stay on top of key trends during crucial shopping days such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday," said Sunil Mirani, Ugam CEO. "These insights combine customer demand and competitor data to help retailers better understand what they are doing right and identify areas where they can improve."