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The Holiday Shopping Season is Upon Us! As the old adage goes, it is the holiday season that will make or break a retailer's entire year. Hence the origination of the term 'BLACK FRIDAY' - if sales popped on the day after Thanksgiving, the retailer was said to be in the BLACK (positive earnings) vs. RED (negative earnings). This year, the season will be shorter than normal (5 fewer shopping days than normal), and the winners (and losers) will be determined by extraordinary execution in physical stores (on shelf availability), digital orders (online sales) (and shipping execution during a shorter core season) and the dropship availability from suppliers (especially large items - think DIY retailers). This year, PURCHASES will be SOONER, rather than LATER!!! All 3 areas will be stressed during the final sprint of 26 days - and add in a pinch of potential bad weather to really wreak havoc. ❄️ ☃️ This holiday season will be disruptive to say the least! Retailers that embrace the omnichannel will be the winners. * Consumers will crave the in-store experience more than the last 4 years, and consumers will want to be assured that goods are in stock (short buying timeframe). * Digital Sales will be flat at about 16% of total sales. (consumers will be a bit leery about the short shipping season) * Drop Ship or 3rd party fulfillment will be a key differentiator this holiday season between success and failure. Ladies and Gentlemen - START YOUR ENGINES. The race is only 26 days long. LETS GO!!!

As holiday shopping ramps up earlier than ever this year, retailers are adapting to the challenges of a shortened season and inflation-driven consumer behavior. With Thanksgiving on the late side, major players like Amazon, Target, and Walmart are rolling out sales as early as October, effectively creating a “mini-Black Friday” ahead of the holiday rush. This shift is not just a strategic move; it's a response to changing shopper habits. Consumers are eager to budget wisely, and retailers are keen to capture this early spending. With personalized promotions and a race for market share, we could be witnessing a new era in retail where holiday sales extend beyond traditional timelines. The question is: Will this trend of earlier sales redefine the holiday shopping landscape for years to come? As we navigate these changes, it's essential for businesses to stay agile and responsive to evolving consumer needs.

A Shorter Holiday Shopping Season? Here's What Retailers Need to Know 🎁 With Thanksgiving arriving later this year, retailers are facing a condensed holiday shopping season. This shift could dramatically influence Black Friday strategies, consumer behavior, and overall sales planning. How are retailers adapting? By embracing omnichannel strategies, starting promotions earlier, and leveraging data-driven insights to meet customer expectations in a tight timeframe. Despite Black Friday falling later on the calendar, the overall season is still expected to result in big sales for retailers. The National Retail Federation expects retail sales in November and December to rise between 2.5% and 3.5% compared to last year. Dive into Retail Dive analysis for key trends and actionable insights to stay ahead this holiday season. 🛍️ https://hubs.ly/Q02YPMpx0 What’s your strategy for navigating this year’s unique holiday calendar? Share your thoughts below! 👇 #RetailStrategy #HolidayShopping #ConsumerTrends #RetailTech #PointofSale

🎄 Holiday Season 2024: Retailers, Are You Ready? 🎄 With inflation stabilizing but household budgets still tight, consumers are becoming more selective in their holiday shopping. This shift offers both a challenge and an opportunity for retailers: fewer items may be purchased, but well-planned promotions and targeted sales can capture attention and encourage spending within these more cautious, value-driven budgets. Want to stay ahead of the curve this season? Dive into our latest blog for key trends and must-have strategies to boost your holiday sales. 🎁 ➡️ Read the full blog here: https://lnkd.in/e9yETddB

Do you wait 'til Black Friday to do your Christmas shopping? According to research done by GXO into UK consumer trends, apparently you're not alone, with 1 in 8 of us are planning to do just that. What else did we find out? - 25-34 year olds are most likely to get their gifts on Black Friday this year - 21% of shoppers plan to pick up online orders in-store this holiday season - Over half value easy returns when selecting a retailer Check out the full report below

With just about a month away from Black Friday, which is considered the official kick-off of the holiday shopping season, sales forecasts are all over the map. At one end is PwC’s estimate of a 7 percent increase in sales over last year and a 15 percent gain compared to 2022. On the other hand, there is a more conservative projection of a 2.5 to 3.5 percent gain from the National Retail Federation. Estimates from Deloitte are in line with the NRF as the analysts at the firm expect a 2.3 to 3.3 percent gain but with e-commerce forecasted to grow between 7 and 9 percent year-over-year. On a WWD webinar earlier this week, Ethan Chernofsky, senior vice president of marketing at Placer.ai, described the current consumer spending and retail landscape as “bifurcated.” Chernofsky said there are a lot of variables affecting consumer spending, and how and where they’re shopping this holiday season. He said retailers need to go deep into the consumer mindset and focus on merchandise curation that meets consumer demands for value and style. Read more here : https://lnkd.in/gDwX-2H4

5 Tips for #Retailers to Tackle a Shorter Holiday Shopping Season 🎄🛍️ The 2024 #holidayseason presents unique challenges, with 5 fewer days for core retail. According to the National Retail Federation, #retail growth in #USA is forecasted between 2.5% and 3.5% this season, aiming for up to $989 billion as retailers work to capture every possible sale amid shifting shopper behavior and high expectations. Here are 5 tips to adapt and make the most of this shortened season: 🚀 Drive Early Traffic & Engagement: Timing is everything this season. Remind shoppers about the tighter shopping window, and encourage early purchases. NRF CEO Matthew Shay underscores the sector's continued momentum, but targeted early promotions, are crucial to capture attention and drive foot traffic. 📊 Leverage Real-Time Shopper Behavior Insights: With fewer shopping days, it’s essential to understand and respond to shopper patterns. Use real-time data to manage staffing, optimize on-shelf availability, adjust retail media, signage, and highlight promotions to maximize conversions. The right insights can guide timely adjustments, ensuring high-demand products are accessible. 📦 Optimize Inventory Management to Prevent Stock-outs: With heightened pressure on inventory, syncing online and in-store stock levels is critical. Real-time updates and fast fulfillment can prevent sales losses from stock-outs. Boston Consulting Group (BCG)’s Mrin Nayak suggests capitalizing on rapid fulfillment advantages, especially for last-minute buyers who need on-time delivery. 💻 Maximize Weekday Digital Performance: According to BCG, weekday online shopping is now 1.4 times higher than weekends. Make sure your digital channels are ready with seamless experiences and responsive support to capitalize on this trend and drive more weekday sales. 🎯 Boost Conversion with Strategic Promotions: Help #shoppers locate what they need quickly and entice them with well-timed promotions. Brands like Target are leading the charge with early promotions, leveraging exclusive product launches to build excitement. Intentional, deal-focused #promotions resonate well with consumers balancing tight holiday budgets. 🔍 Looking to cover specific areas in-store for real-time monitoring? With iCape, you can start analyzing these critical zones in less than a day, with no need for ongoing monitoring after the holiday season unless desired. Our video analytics solution works seamlessly with your existing hardware, no extra equipment required!!! It's simple, hassle-free, and fully compliant with the highest privacy standards, helping you unlock new levels of shopper insight and maximize your holiday sales! Forbes Pamela Danziger Jack Kleinhenz https://lnkd.in/ggrM-VZH

The 2024 holiday shopping season is upon us—and it’s shorter than ever! With 5 fewer shopping days between Thanksgiving and Christmas (just 27 days!), retail and e-commerce marketers need to adjust their strategies. The last time the season was this short, back in 2019, brands compensated by launching campaigns earlier and extending hours during peak shopping times. This year, with increased media competition due to the election and distracted consumers, the stakes are even higher. According to a Boston Consulting Group (BCG) study, 34% of U.S. consumers have already started their holiday shopping. To win this season, getting ahead of the curve is critical. Brands need to push communications out early and lock in customer acquisition well before Thanksgiving—especially with Black Friday and Cyber Monday just around the corner. Discover more on how this unique season will impact your strategy in this Forbes article: https://lnkd.in/eyHyi4YZ

Black Friday sales are kicking off earlier this year as retailers aim to capture consumer interest during a shortened shopping season. With Thanksgiving on November 28, retailers are launching "Early Black Friday" deals to attract deal-seekers in a tighter shopping window due to economic uncertainties. Here's how early discounts and innovative shopping experiences can boost sales at your small business this season: Featuring: National Retail Federation | Deloitte | ICSC | Circana #BlackFriday #RetailTrends

Uncertainty clouds holiday shopping season after mixed forecasts from Walmart, Target Retailers are in for a mixed holiday season this year ahead of Black Friday and Christmas, marked by watchful consumers keeping big spending on a tight leash and vigilantly comparing prices on their mobile phones to look for the best deals on apparel, electronics and toys. Against this backdrop, bellwether Walmart (WMT.N) lifted annual sales and profit targets this week, and said a majority of its customers were maintaining holiday plans year over year in the midst of an election year. Walmart has managed to gain marketshare as its ultra-low prices on groceries and a wide range of discretionary goods attract upper-income households to its superstores. On the other hand, rival Target's forecasts for the holiday quarter were significantly subdued, with executives saying demand remains weak for higher-margin items such as home goods and electronics. Despite a rate cut from the U.S. Federal Reserve, the first in four years, consumer spending on non-essential items has remained uninspiring, and industry analysts expect a deal-heavy holiday shopping season yet again. Overall holiday shopping is expected to grow at its slowest pace in six years, according to separate reports from the National Retail Federation and Deloitte. This year, there are just 26 days between Black Friday — which has traditionally marked the beginning of the holiday shopping period, and Christmas, compared with 31 days last year. — Reuters