2O23 Holiday Shopping Trends

Timing and Transparency

According to the National Retail Federation, 39% of shoppers said that they plan to start shopping earlier than usual. While Black Friday and Cyber Monday are still popular in terms of shopping activity, consider advertising a Pre-Black Friday sale to catch those early shoppers. Savings, deals, and discounts are top of mind for customers. Be sure to highlight great deals and inform them of how much they’re saving.

 

In-Store and Online Traffic

2020 and 2021 were difficult years for in-store sales. Even as restrictions were lifted in 2022, there was still a bit of hesitation from shoppers. Now in 2023, shoppers are more excited than ever to shop in store. To create value for these shoppers, consider advertising in-store exclusive sales that customers wouldn’t be able to get anywhere else. On the other hand, most people will choose to shop online to avoid the holiday rush. Whether they’re shopping in-store or online, customers are expecting personalized deals and discounts. Consider sending an extra coupon to your most loyal email subscribers.

 

Social Media Strategy

According to a report done by SalesForce, they found that social media advertising is expected to generate 10 times more traffic than traditional marketing during the holiday season. If you’re not already, get your brand on the platforms where your customers are and develop a social media strategy. Short form and live stream video are both dominating the social media world right now. Lean into these channels and advertise through them in an organic and natural way. 

 

Customer Expectations

Your customers will be researching their purchases online before they decide to buy. Be sure you have easily accessible information on all your products to help your customers decide to purchase. Consider created brand awareness campaigns across digital platforms to inform people of your products and guide them to a decision. Since 2020, buy online pick up in store (BOPIS) options have only grown in popularity. In a report done by SalesForce, they found that 39% of consumers intentionally seek out retailers that offer BOPIS as an option. They also found that retailers who offer BOPIS as an option, grew seven times faster than those who don’t. 

 

By learning from consumer shopping habits in years past, retailers can better prepare for shopping habits to come. Make the most of this upcoming holiday season by keeping these themes in mind!