It’s official, Prime Day 2021 is slated for June 21 and 22
Now that Amazon has announced the official dates for its biggest shopping event of the year, shoppers are already scrambling to prepare. It makes sense; if it’s anything like last year’s Prime Day there’s nearly $1.4 billion in savings up for grabs, according to Amazon.
This year, however, Prime Day is looking a lot different.
Amazon has renewed its focus on the consumer experience in order to hold its number-one position not just in e-commerce sales, but as a worldwide retail juggernaut. The company is rolling out new initiatives to stay competitive while giving other retailers a run for their money.
Now that Prime Day is only weeks away, here’s an updated guide covering what you need to know before it arrives — so you can save big once it’s here.
Amazon announced on Tuesday that Prime Day will be held Monday and Tuesday, June 21-22.
Since its inception in 2015, Prime Day has been held mid-July to celebrate Amazon’s anniversary. Last year, due to the pandemic, the mega shopping event was pushed back to mid-October.
Prime Day 2020 is recognized as one of the most successful retail events to date. According to Amazon, last year’s two-day event surpassed $3.5 billion in sales — a 60 percent increase from Prime Day 2019.
This year, Prime Day is met with significant changes to the retail landscape, as well as changes in consumer behavior and spending.
After raising the bar so high, both for themselves and other retailers, Amazon is expected to take this year’s Prime Day event to the next level.
Consumer confidence spiked in both March and April.
According to The Conference Board, the Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) reached 121.7 in April, up from 109.0 in March. Lynn Franco, Senior Director of Economic Indicators at The Conference Board, states the rebound may be attributed, in part, to short-term economic optimism. Franco states consumer confidence is at its highest since February 2020.
The higher consumer confidence could make Prime Day more competitive among consumers than it was last year. This may result in a significant increase of shoppers competing for a limited stock of items, causing products to sell out more quickly.
Given recent changes to circumstances, shoppers are pivoting toward very different products from last year.
During Prime Day 2020, shoppers took advantage of deep discounts on what were considered, to some extent, pandemic must-haves: laptops, exercise equipment and TVs. This year’s online search trends indicate pet items, travel gear and next-gen electronics have emerged as some of 2021’s most-wanted items.
While consumer confidence is up, some shoppers remain risk-averse or budget-conscious. In response, Amazon has rolled out flexible payment plans for eligible Prime shoppers. By making some products more attainable in this respect, it may unlock considerable buying opportunities.
Amazon has added new products to the Alexa ecosystem since last year’s event. The new arrivals are expected to garner attention from Prime shoppers.
The most notable products include Echo Show 10, released this past February, and the new Echo Buds, debuting May 13. They may be available at the lowest prices of the year, and could trigger deep discounts on older generations of these devices.
We’ve been tracking recent trends in online searches and consumer behavior. Here are products we expect to see on sale during the event:
Many consumers are gearing up for device upgrades, especially with several next-generation tech products hitting the market these past few months.
In order to take advantage of Prime Day sales, shoppers must be Amazon Prime members. It costs $119 annually or $12.99 per month. Qualifying students and government assistance recipients may be eligible for discounted memberships for as little as $5.99 per month.
In the weeks leading up to Prime Day, here’s how many consumers are preparing:
Once Prime Day arrives, there are a few ways to get ahead and secure the best deals. Here are recommendations shared by veteran Prime Day shoppers:
These are some of the products we’re looking forward to seeing on sale for Prime Day 2021:
A favorite for beach or poolside reading, this top-tier Kindle has a 330-ppi display and works with Audible.
This capable Alexa device is ideal for video calling, cooking tutorials, and streaming. Load it up with Alexa skills to unlock its true potential.
These new earbuds offer five hours of continuous listening per charge. and it comes with a 15-hour charging case.
The newer Ring Video Doorbell is equipped with advanced motion detection, two-way talk and built-in Alexa greetings.
This 10-inch kids’ Kindle comes with a one-year subscription to Amazon Kids+ with access to 20,000 games, apps and education content.
Fitbit Versa 3 Health and Fitness Smart Watch
The best-selling smart watch integrates with Alexa or Google Assistant to control smart devices or make hands-free calls.
With one-touch operation and eight settings, this digital air fryer takes the guesswork out of cooking.
The space-savvy Bowflex kettle belly offers weight settings from eight to 40 pounds and has a slip-resistant, ergonomic grip.
The new Apple Macbook Air is equipped with the M1 chip for enhanced performance and has a battery life of 18 hours.
Samsung 55-Inch Crystal UHD 4K Smart TV
This crystal-clear smart TV by Samsung has built-in Alexa and is powered by next-gen Tizen apps for easy control.
T-fal Ultimate Hard Anodized Nonstick Cookware Set
The 17-piece premium cookware set is made with a non-toxic, nonstick interior and has a thermo spot indicator to let you know when the pans are preheated.
Sian Babish is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
