Prime Day 2023, Amazon’s annual two-day shopping extravaganza, has come and gone, but not without breaking some records and making some headlines. The event, which ran from July 11 to July 12, was the biggest Prime Day ever, with Prime members purchasing more than 375 million items worldwide and saving more than $2.5 billion on millions of deals across the Amazon store.
But Prime Day is no longer limited to Amazon. Other online retailers have joined the fray, offering their own discounts and promotions to compete with the e-commerce giant. According to Adobe Analytics, online spending across U.S. retailers surpassed $11 billion during Prime Day, a 6.1% increase over last year’s event. Some of the top-performing categories outside of Amazon were apparel, electronics, and home goods.
What were the top-selling products on Prime Day 2023?
Amazon revealed some of the best-selling products from Prime Day 2023, which included a mix of tech gadgets, household items, beauty products, and pet treats. Here are some of the most popular items that Prime members snapped up during the event:
- Temptation Cat Treats: These crunchy and soft treats were a hit among cat owners, who bought more than 1.5 million packs of them on Prime Day3.
- Amazon Fire Sticks: The streaming devices that turn any TV into a smart TV were among the top-selling products on Amazon worldwide, with the Fire TV Stick 4K being the best-selling product across all of Amazon.
- Liquid I.V. Packets: These hydration supplements that can be mixed with water were a popular choice for health-conscious shoppers, who bought more than 2 million packets of them on Prime Day.
- Echo Dot (2022 5th Generation): The latest version of Amazon’s smart speaker with Alexa was another best-seller, especially the model with a clock that can display the time, temperature, timers, and alarms.
- Blink Mini Indoor Plug-In Security Camera: This compact and affordable security camera that works with Alexa was a hot item for home security enthusiasts, who bought more than 1 million units of it on Prime Day.
Other notable products that made the list were Apple AirPods, Crest Whitestrips, Revlon One Step Volumizer Plus 2.0, AeroGarden Harvest, and LifeStraw Personal Water Filter.
How does Prime Day compare to Black Friday?
Prime Day has been growing steadily since its inception in 2015, when it was launched to celebrate Amazon’s 20th anniversary. Since then, it has expanded to more countries, categories, and deals, attracting more shoppers and sellers every year. In fact, Prime Day has become so big that it is now rivaling Black Friday, the traditional post-Thanksgiving shopping bonanza.
According to Adobe Analytics, online spending on Black Friday 2022 reached $9 billion in the U.S., a 21.6% increase over the previous year. That means that Prime Day 2023 surpassed Black Friday 2022 by more than $2 billion in online sales. However, it is worth noting that Black Friday is only one day, while Prime Day is two days. Also, Black Friday is not exclusive to online shopping; many brick-and-mortar stores also offer discounts and deals on that day.
Another difference between Prime Day and Black Friday is the timing. Prime Day usually takes place in mid-July, but it was postponed to October in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, it returned to its original summer slot, which may have boosted its appeal for shoppers looking for seasonal items like outdoor furniture, grills, and swimsuits. Black Friday, on the other hand, is closer to the holiday season, which may influence shoppers’ preferences for gifts and winter essentials.
Are Prime Day specials really deals?
While Prime Day offers millions of deals across various categories and brands, not all of them are necessarily worth buying. Some products may have inflated prices before the event to make the discounts seem more attractive. Others may have lower prices at other times of the year or at other retailers.
To avoid falling for fake deals or impulse buys, shoppers should do some research before adding items to their carts. One useful tool is CamelCamelCamel.com, a website that tracks the price history of any product on Amazon. By entering the URL or name of a product on the site, shoppers can see how its price has changed over time and whether it is currently at its lowest point. They can also set up price alerts to get notified when a product drops to their desired price.
Another tip is to compare prices across different retailers, especially those that are competing with Amazon on Prime Day. Some of them may offer better deals or perks, such as free shipping, rewards points, or coupons. Shoppers can also use browser extensions like Honey or Wikibuy to automatically find and apply the best prices and codes at checkout.
Better shop around
Prime Day 2023 was a huge success for Amazon and its Prime members, who enjoyed unprecedented savings and selection on a wide range of products. But Prime Day is not the only game in town; other online retailers have stepped up their game to offer their own deals and promotions, making the online shopping landscape more competitive. And while Prime Day may have some amazing deals, shoppers should also be savvy and smart about what they buy and how they buy it, using tools and tips to find the best prices and value for their money.
