The forecast for the 2013 holiday shopping season is out, and it’s looking to be a holly jolly holiday for retailers! Consumers plan to shop earlier and spend more this year according to American Express Spending & Saving Tracker research.
Below are some of the key findings, along with advice on how you can use the stats to get even more business during the holidays.
Sixty-six percent of consumers plan to take advantage of offers via social media sites.
If you’re doing a promotion via social media, make sure your banners and window graphics let your customers and potential customers know. You can do this easily by placing a QR code or stating “Like Us On Facebook” on your banners. You should use any and all methods to drive traffic to these sites if you’re running a promotion there. And a simple graphic in your storefront can help you do just that.
Fifty-eight percent of Black Friday shoppers plan to shop between 12am and 7am that day.
Are you going to be open for Black Friday? Make sure people know! Over half of consumers will be shopping that day, so it’s up to you to make sure they know you’re going to be a part of the Black Friday madness. Otherwise you’re going to miss out on a huge crowd. By putting graphics in front and inside your store, your message will be sure to reach all local traffic and bring in the Black Friday business.
Fifty-one percent of consumers will multitask by using mobile devices to shop, up from 32% last year.
Make sure your website is prominently listed on your holiday banners and graphics because these days, it’s all about the blended shopping experience. Consumers want to be able to shop in store, as well as online. And there’s no doubt that consumers will do some online “pre-shopping” before actually going into stores. You’re website should display your products and give consumers a reason to visit you over your competition.
To learn more about the research and its findings, click here.