Türkiye’s e-commerce sector expects record sales of $14.6B in November surge

Türkiye’s e-commerce sector is set to experience a monthlong shopping spree in November, President of the E-Commerce Operators Association (ETID) Hakan Cevikoglu revealed. Special shopping events like “Singles’ Day,” “Teachers’ Day,” “Black Friday or Fabulous Friday,” and “Cyber Monday” will fuel a wave of discounts, driving record-breaking sales throughout the month.

“With the promotions lined up, we estimate that a total of ₺500 billion ($14.6 billion) in sales will be generated in November,” Cevikoglu stated.

Spreading out sales to ease logistics pressure

Cevikoglu explained that extending the discount period across the entire month is aimed at reducing the strain on logistics infrastructure, minimizing consumer complaints, and preventing delivery delays. Special time-limited discounts will allow consumers to catch the best deals without overwhelming the system.

He emphasized that November will see a shopping frenzy, highlighted by significant dates such as Nov. 11 for Singles’ Day, Nov. 22 for Black Friday, Nov. 24 for Teachers’ Day, and Nov. 25 for Cyber Monday. E-commerce activity is expected to peak during this period.

End-of-year revenue set to exceed $87.5 billion

Discussing year-end expectations, Cevikoglu projected a massive surge in revenue for the e-commerce sector, anticipating over 110% growth compared to last year’s campaign season.

“The total campaign volume for November alone is expected to surpass ₺500 billion. With the impact of the ‘Last Market of the Year’ campaign scheduled for December 29, we anticipate that the sector will close the year with over ₺3 trillion in revenue,” he said.

Cevikoglu also noted that e-commerce platforms are preparing diverse promotional offers, from hourly discounts to basket-specific deals, across multiple categories such as technology, fashion, baby products, supermarkets, home decor and DIY stores.

Consumer safety: Only shop through official marketplaces

Highlighting the importance of consumer safety, Cevikoglu warned shoppers to be cautious of online scams, especially during peak shopping periods.

“Spam and phishing attempts increase during these times, so it’s crucial to verify any links embedded in promotional emails. Sometimes, the visible link can lead to a different, potentially fraudulent site,” he advised.

“If you encounter such situations, access the offer through the retailer’s official website directly. Always make purchases via authorized marketplaces and check the web addresses carefully. If the URL does not match the seller’s official site, verify the authenticity of the offer by searching for it on the retailer’s official page,” Cevikoglu recommended.

Check for SSL certificates and trust seals

He also stressed the need to verify SSL certificates on shopping sites to ensure secure transactions. The presence of an SSL certificate serves as a significant indicator of a safe online shopping experience.

Additionally, Cevikoglu urged consumers to check whether the site carries a “trust seal” from the Ministry of Trade, which confirms the platform’s reliability as an authorized e-commerce site in Türkiye.