The holiday shopping season is a key period for retailers. Most stores can expect to see an influx of shoppers, and revenue, when consumers begin shopping for gifts and other holiday deals. It’s important to stay up to date with the latest retail trends and insights surrounding the season, because it can mean the difference between a successful season and a hectic holiday bust. Find out what retailers can expect to see this year during the holiday season.
Gift Cards are a Go-To
Gift cards are truly the gift that keep on giving. 90% of people consider gift cards to be an appropriate item to gift someone, making them commonplace stocking stuffers and greeting card goodies. Furthermore, they’re extremely easy gift ideas for those last-minute shoppers with 32% of people gifting a gift card the same day it’s been purchased. Retailers can expect to see many customers using gift cards at the cash register this holiday season, and plenty of gift cards purchased as gifts for others. To make the most out of this trend, retailers should ensure that gift cards are an acceptable form of payment at their Point of Sales (PoS) systems, and that gift cards are available for shoppers to buy in-store.
The Big 5 Days
Retailers can expect a tight turnaround from shoppers this year; specifically, there’s a five day period where analysts expect to see the most consumer spending for the holidays. Nearly 39% of all planned holiday gift spending will occur between Nov. 27 and Dec. 1 – AKA, between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday. To compound this, experts expect nearly 80% of all holiday shopping will finish by the end of Cyber Monday as consumers prioritize decorating and planning events with family, friends, and loved ones. Retailers armed with this knowledge should focus heavily on this five day period. Get all hands on deck, ensure the store is open and fully stocked, strategically map out product placement and store layout, and double check that PoS systems are set up to accommodate multiple types of transactions.
Shoppers Want a Bargain
It should go without saying that shoppers always appreciate a good bargain, but it’s truer than ever in 2025 due to rising financial stressors from inflation and tariffs. Consultants estimate that nearly 40% of shoppers plan on making at least half of their holiday purchases on sale. Retailers should think creatively and strategically about what deals to offer on products in-store and online. Mark down your high dollar items, like tech and gadgets that make great gifts, to capitalize on these shoppers searching for affordable holiday deals.
Final Thoughts
This year’s holiday shopping season will have a few twists in store for retailers. Gift cards will be one of the biggest gifted items this year for shoppers of all demographics, and retailers must make sure to sell and accept them as valid forms of payment. Furthermore, most shopping will take place during the five days between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday with relatively few purchases coming afterwards. Finally, a large proportion of shoppers will be on the lookout for deals in-store and online and, if necessary, won’t shop at a store if the bargains aren’t satisfying. Retailers need to keep these trends in mind during the holiday shopping season.
Sources
https://capitaloneshopping.com/research/gift-card-statistics/
https://www.pwc.com/us/en/industries/consumer-markets/library/holiday-outlook-trends.html
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