Helpful Holiday Tips

The 2020 Holiday season will be unlike any other! Despite the economic hardships and uncertainties surrounding the pandemic, Tinuitui’s 2020 Holiday Shopping Trends Report forecasts that 81.3% of consumers plan to spend about the same or even more on holiday gifts compared to 2019. (Tinuitui, 2020) That is the highest level in the past three years!

Here are three holiday trends every business should be prepared for:

Holiday Trend #1: Local Loyalty

Purchasing gifts for friends and loved ones is a way for consumers to shift focus from the uncertainty and stress of the pandemic to celebrating the holidays and the promise of our return to a better tomorrow.

81% of U.S. shoppers still plan to spend money in physical stores, according to the International Council of Shopping Center’s annual Holiday Shopping Intentions Survey. (Verdon, 2020)

This year consumers have been encouraged, maybe more than ever before, to shop local in order to support small businesses in their communities. According to The Visa Back to Business Study – Holiday Edition, 60% of Americans will do the majority of their shopping with local retailers this year! (Braverman, 2020)

To take advantage of this trend, it’s important to have a strong digital plan to stay top of mind with customers. Social media, online shopping, allowing customers to purchase online and pickup in store, and offering free local delivery are great ways to stay connected to local customers.

Holiday Trend #2: Social Media

Social media consumption has significantly increased this year!

Our team has collected social media images highlighting a variety of our brands. These images feature a variety of relevant products for the holidays. Simply click on the “Download Assets” button the image and a zip file of images will download to your computer.

Going Live on social media has been a tool that many small retailers have used to continuously connect with customers. Doing Live sales weekly can help boost sales! Kris Noonan, an Ivystone Rep in Minnesota who ran her own retail store and did Facebook Live sales before joining the Ivystone team, compiled some easy tips if to get started doing Live Sales!  

Read our Tips for Going Live!

 

Holiday Trend #3: Lifestyle

Many American’s discovered or rediscovered activities during social distancing that they plan to continue, such as cooking at home, spending time at home, exercising at home, working from home, and gardening. Relevant products have been flying off shelves!  

Learn more about 2020 gifting trends in our previous post: 

We hope you find these helpful!  

Sources:

Tinuiti (2020, September 17) Tinuiti’s 2020 Holiday Shopping Trends Report Predicts Increased Spending. CISION PR Newswire. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tinuitis-2020-holiday-shopping-trends-report-predicts-increased-spending-301133604.html

Verdon, J (2020, October 25) Santa Is Keeping His Distance This Year, But Will Shoppers? Malls Prpare For Their First Covid – 19 Christmas. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/joanverdon/2020/10/25/santa-is-keeping-his-distance-this-year-but-will-shoppers-malls-prepare-for-their-first-covid-19-christmas/?sh=81ce14e12d8e

Braverman, B (2020, October 31) 6 ways small business can boost holiday sales in 2020 amid the pandemic. CNBC SMALL BUSINESS PLAYBOOK. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/10/31/coronavirus-how-small-businesses-can-boost-holiday-sales-in-2020.html