Treat yo 'elf
What's influencing and inspiring shoppers
The bulk of shoppers plan to finish all their holiday shopping in November, with many waiting until the historically discount-laden Black Friday, Cyber Monday weekend to do so.
While social media remains a constant source of inspiration for consumers, with a majority of sellers (78%) planning to promote their holiday goods on socials, new digital channels are capturing the attention of holiday shoppers, too. Consumers are rushing to shopping apps (31%), websites and blogs/forums (23%), and wishlist apps or websites (22%) for gifting inspiration. Creating compelling content that you can share on these forums is sure to help your shoppers find the perfect gift.
Don’t discount the impact of IRL sources, though: 49% of shoppers get ideas through word-of-mouth, and 39% find inspiration in stores. A balanced omnichannel approach is critical given nearly half of consumers plan to buy gifts in-store across all age groups.
TIP: Entice consumers to shop in person by offering unique experiences and exclusive offers that can only be accessed in-store. 51% of Square sellers plan to host a curated holiday event and 36% will offer exclusive merch, while 18% will partner with another business to offer discounts or bundles to increase sales. These tactics will allow retailers to not only drive foot traffic, but diversify their revenue streams outside of their core offering.
