singleday

Singleday, commonly known as Singles’ Day or 11.11, is a shopping festival that originated in China and has grown into a global online shopping event. It is held on November 11 each year, with promotional periods often extending before and after the date.

Origins and development: The concept began among university students in Nanjing in the 1990s as a lighthearted celebration of being single, chosen because the date’s four ones symbolize single individuals. In 2009, Alibaba Group popularized Singles’ Day as a major online shopping festival on its e-commerce platforms Taobao and Tmall, transforming it into the world’s largest shopping event by gross merchandise value and attracting participation from global brands and retailers.

Observance and scope: The festival centers on extensive discounts, limited-time sales, and promotional campaigns. While rooted in China, it has become a global phenomenon, with many international brands offering cross-border shopping and participating through various platforms. In some years, promotions run for multiple days, and livestream commerce has become a prominent feature in extending the event’s reach.

Economic impact: Singles’ Day is widely regarded as one of the largest, if not the largest, online shopping events in the world. It has significant effects on e-commerce platforms, logistics networks, and consumer behavior, shaping promotional strategies for retailers around the world.

Criticism and concerns: The event draws scrutiny for its environmental impact due to packaging waste and product returns, as well as concerns about consumer debt, labor conditions in fulfillment centers, data privacy, and market concentration on major platforms.