Impulse buys will drive retail sales this year, as consumers favour retailers with longer opening hours, short checkout queues and in store collection services
Kmart began running its Christmas ads right after Labor Day. Around the same time, a huge Christmas tree was spotted at a Bay Area Ikea. Hobby Lobby had its Christmas decorations up in August.
Clearly, some retailers are taking no chances this holiday season. However, their efforts might be counterproductive. “What consumers bristle about is feeling like it’s shoved down their throat,” says Kit Yarrow, a retail industry consultant.
The retail industry worldwide is in full swing to welcome shoppers, as the holiday season knocks the door. IT investment by retail shops will allow shoppers to go back with a deal and improved customer experience.
Retailers are doing all they can do to make the maximum use of the year’s busiest buying and gifting weeks. Omni-channel commerce is one of the top priorities for this year.
Toys R Us stores nationwide will open at 5pm on Thanksgiving Day and stay open until 11pm on Friday, the company announced in a statement. Other retailers that have announced Thanksgiving Day openings include Macys Inc. M, -0.34% and Sears Holdings Corp. SHLD, +0.08% which open at 6pm. REI will not only remain closed on Thanksgiving Day, but will also be closed on Black Friday, and is encouraging others to “go outside and play instead” through a hashtag, #OptOutside. Research conducted by RichRelevance found that 64.5% of respondents “hate” or “dislike” the practice of stores opening on Thanksgiving. RichRelevance, which works with retailers on customer personalization programs, surveyed 1,000 Americans for its findings.
Now that everyone is filled with Halloween sugar regret, it’s time to focus on something more positive. And right now, that’s the holiday retail outlook.
Both the National Retail Federation and the International Council of Shopping Centers are projecting healthy increases for the season—3.7% and 3.3% respectively. The Mintel Group is forecasting a 4.3% increase over 2014. And The NPD Group says positive consumer sentiment should boost shopper spend by 5 percent.
Today, we released our new study of more than 1,000 U.S. consumers, highlighting shopping preferences and sentiment this holiday season. One common theme that emerged is that Americans continue to be all about “instant gratification”; even benefits like Amazon Prime can’t top the pleasure and convenience of a purchase in-hand at check out.
Survey reveals Americans overwhelmingly disapprove of stores being open on Thanksgiving Day
Shopping for Halloween candy a few weeks ago, I walked smack into a store display of tinsel and garland and bright blinking lights. It was 88 degrees that day. The humidity was stuck at insufferable and a tropical storm churned over the warm waters of the Atlantic.
I scratched my head: What holiday were we celebrating again?