First Black Friday event attracts many sellers and buyers |26 November 2022

For the first time in Seychelles, the Enterprise Seychelles Agency organised a Black Friday event yesterday at the Camion Hall grounds and it attracted a very large number of visitors.

Sales started immediately after the opening ceremony and will continue today.                                                 

Minister for Investment, Entrepreneurship and Industry, Devika Vidot has said Black Friday will be promoted as an annual event.

Businesses ‒ micro, small, medium and large ‒ from various sectors participated in the Black Friday Sales initiative with the aim of boosting sales and creating the busiest shopping period of the year which can be of great advantages to merchants, retailers, business owners and customers.

“Even though Seychelles was not used to celebrating Black Friday, Seychellois have been participating in the Black Friday Sales by buying their stuff online! Black Friday sale is an international event where businesses lower their prices giving consumers a unique opportunity to buy things at an affordable price. As part of its mandate, Esa has the responsibility, on behalf of the government, to help and support local businesses in their development. This include marketing etc.,” said Minister Vidot.

Minister Vidot noted that with only a contribution of R50, businesses got the visibility in all media outlets, adding that this will help them gain more customers.

“As a government, we are trying to help local businesses and encourage people to buy local products. Shops will also be able to get rid of their old stocks at a reasonable price. Some 90 businesses registered to participate in these two events and this is a good sign for our local market,” shared Minister Vidot.

During the event, local dreadlocked singer Jakim launched his new album entitled ‘Toulezour mon birthday’ and sang one song live accompanied by Tania.

Many people came to witness the opening of the first Black Friday Sales and even the shops in the Camion Hall building also had their products on sale. One of the shop owners, Mary Carbognin shared that she did not wait for Black Friday to start the sale but since one week she has been giving a 20% discount on all products.

Some buyers, still found the prices quite high and expect the sellers will reconsider their prices.

Many shops around Victoria and other places were also having Black Friday sales.

Just like yesterday, there will be DJs as well as singers and dance groups present to entertain shoppers.

Vidya Gappy

Photos: Joena Meme

Good to know…

Black Friday is a colloquial term for the Friday after Thanksgiving in the United States that is the Friday after November 22. It traditionally marks the start of the Christmas shopping season in the United States. Many stores offer highly promoted sales at discounted prices and often open early, sometimes as early as midnight or even on Thanksgiving. Some stores' sales continue to Monday ("Cyber Monday") or for a week ("Cyber Week").

Occurring on the fourth Friday in November unless November 1 is a Friday (in which case it's the fifth Friday), Black Friday has routinely been the busiest shopping day of the year in the United States since 2005.