As evidenced in our previous article on the first 5 holiday trends for 2009, the economy is still greatly impacting both consumers and retailers. Unfortunately, the next 5 trends from Phil Rist of BIGresearch and Ellen Davis of the National Retail Federation send the same message.
The video above details the remaining trends, starting with trend #6, which is 'tis the season to eat. Food is the only area in the NRF survey that is not expecting a sales decline. Some people are even planning to give gifts of food such as cakes, pies, and fruit baskets to replace a purchased item.
Seventhly, understand that gift cards aren't dead. Some people shy away from gift cards because they believe they can get a better deal on something else. Others resist them because they fear gift cards are impersonal. However, the survey found that they are actually the most-requested item. Consumers prefer gift cards because they can purchase either necessities or items they would not normally purchase for themselves.
Another trend to remember this holiday season is when you look at store sales, consider the Internet. The Web is said to influence 1 in 3 holiday purchases this year. Retailers are utilizing the Web as much as possible since it is a more cost-effective channel for advertising and marketing than traditional channels.
Don't discount department stores is trending topic #9. The survey shows that the 18-24-year-old age group plans on shopping at department stores for their holiday purchases. Retailers such as Macy's, JCPenney, and Kohl's are discounting their prices and positioning themselves in a way that attracts young adults.
Lastly, impulse spending can pretty much be written off this year. People simply cannot afford to splurge on themselves and others and would likely feel guilty if they did so.
Although these trends are speculative, they do give retailers and consumers an idea about what they can expect. What trends are you seeing as this year's holiday season approaches? Please share your experiences below.
Most Holiday Shopping Isn't Even Completed YetPart 1: Holiday Trends for 2009Hitwise Outlines Holiday Traffic TrendsConsumers Paying Less for Gifts This YearHas Online Shopping Already Peaked for the Year? Consumers Plan To Spend More On Back-To-School ShoppingMake Sure Your Site's Ready for Holiday TrafficcomScore: Online Shopping Trends Still StrongHalf Have Already Started Holiday ShoppingConsumers more likely to shop in store rather than online
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Comments
Getting your ecommerce site
Getting your ecommerce site ready for the holiday is now. There are great tips in this article, thanks for sharing. Can help any industry such as steak seasoning, window replacement, or blackberry phone parts.
Christmas in July
I am a photographer in New Jersey and most of my holiday work is done in the summer. I was pleased to see that internet sales figures to be a big part of the holiday shopping this year as my biggest clients maintain large ecommerce sites. I did not see catalogs mentioned and I have definitely seen a reduction in my catalog work and the amount that arrive at my home. I just finished a huge jewelry project and really wanted them to have everything up on their site by November 1. I meet my deadline and wished them and all retailers out there a sucessful and profitable holiday season. Good luck everybody.
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