New research anticipates a 5.5% year-on-year increase in spending during this year's Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, with New South Wales (NSW) expected to lead the nation's spending. More than half of the top 10 suburbs projected to spend the most during Click Frenzy, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are predicted to be in Victoria. Last October’s Click Frenzy event recorded a 28% year-on-year increase in sales on its first day.

CouriersPlease, Australia’s fastest-growing franchised courier service, is forecasting the suburbs and states poised to lead the nation’s spending during this year's sales events. The company delivers about 30 million parcels each year, largely for well-established retailers, including Myer, Big W and Kmart. CEO Richard Thame says that parcel delivery volumes have steadily increased during this annual sales trifecta.

"We are forecasting a growth in Click Frenzy and Black Friday parcel delivery volumes this year. My optimism comes from Australian consumers’ resilience and continued demand for value amid economic challenges. They are price-savvy and driven to seek out deals that combat ongoing inflation and cost-of-living pressures," says Thame.

NSW shoppers are forecasted to make up more than a third of online spending at the sales this year. Victoria made up 29% of parcel deliveries, Queensland at 20%, South Australia just over 7%, while Western Australia received 5.74% of all parcel deliveries. Tasmania and the Northern Territory scored less than one per cent each of national parcel volumes. Victoria is expected to dominate the top 10 suburb ranking this year.

"Shoppers who make their purchases early in the sales, especially with high-demand items, are likely to avoid disappointment. Many retailers will offer deals leading up to the main sales dates, so take advantage of early access offers to ensure timely delivery," advises Thame.

"For retailers, planning ahead is key. Make sure your delivery options are clear and set realistic expectations for delivery times. With parcel volumes increasing during this period, offering customers flexible delivery options, such as to parcel collection points or to an alternative address, can improve their online shopping experience and reduce the pressure on deliveries during these busy weeks," Thame adds.

"It’s no longer just about convenience for consumers. They’re becoming more strategic, waiting for sales events to make larger purchases, particularly in the current economic climate," Thame observes.