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Gourmet Business December 2014
Good Tidings and Prosperity to All ... By the time you read this issue, hopefully you will have successfully sailed through Black Friday and Small Business Saturday. We hope the momentum begun for you there will continue through the holiday season. The good news is a majority of consumers intend to spend the same as or more than And while your bricks-and-mortar stores continue to be key for shoppers, online shopping is expected to be the big winner this holiday season, so be sure to focus a lot of attention on your e-commerce marketing, promotions and fulfillment. Nearly 60 percent of consumers plan to do at least some of their holiday shopping online this year, makingonline the leading channel for holiday shopping, according to NPD, which notes that women are more likely than men to shop online (62 percent vs. 57 percent), as are those with children in the household. Online is leading the way for consumers through all phases of their purchases, from pre-shopping homework to the checkout counter. “Online has truly become the place for consumers to start and finish their holiday shopping. Last year, we saw a mad dash at the end, with many consumers disappointed because gifts were delayed due to so much last-minute online shopping. Hopefully, stores and shippers learned from that mistake, and will be more prepared for the even bigger crush to come closer to the holidays this year,” said Cohen. So be prepared for – and relish – the last- minute crush, which could make or break your holiday sales and profits. We wish you all a very happy and prosperous holiday season, and look forward to reporting on your successes in 2015! Maureen Azzato mazzato@gourmetbusiness.com |
