With Christmas just a short time away, gift shopping is something that s sure to be on many consumers minds.
Similar to last year, the coronavirus pandemic will play a role in the holiday shopping season in terms of purchasing trends, shipping delays and item shortages. FOX Business consulted retail experts to get their insight on what US holiday-related recommendations are often overlooked by American shoppers.
What they had to say were, perhaps, what they were going through?
Early shopping is the name of the game for the holiday season 2021. Not only are people shopping early because of anticipation delays, but most experts agree it's the best tactic to try and get online orders or in-person store purchases on time.
Is getting ahead of the curve with holiday shopping is vital this year? Many toymakers, such as Mattel and tech manufacturers alike, are struggling to navigate the supply chain and keep shelves stocked, said Brett Rose, founder and CEO of United National Consumer Suppliers. Unfortunately, this also means they are struggling to keep prices down. Once the prime shopping season comes around, it will be too late for most. Rose also believes retailers will decrease on promotions later in the holiday season to reflect the current early shopping trend.
At the same time, Jane, senior vice president of commercial operations predicts holiday deals will extend over a longer period of time as a way to drive shoppers through physical doors and get more profitable.
Is toy sales up 40% year over year, Spencer said? Mask sales have increased 300% since the end of July. Retail experts expect digital shopping and in-store digital experiences to go up for COVID 19 Delta variants in light of online shopping by Nordstrom.
She added online options like buy online, pickup in store extended return windows, free alterations, waived shipping fees, and new exclusives will all be more available to shoppers this season. As millions of American consumers prepare for the holidays, retail experts say shipping delays and supply shortages are imminent.
With shipping delays there will be products that are literally unavailable with the coming of Christmas as a closer thing, said Gretel Going, the founder of Fortune Frame a personalized jewelry company. Bulky items such as TVs, furniture, tables and rugs are going to be the worst affected by transportation disruptions. Smaller categories such as personal accessories and jewelry will not see the same disruption due to the ability to ship by air. She went on, adding that retailers will likely discount items that are in stock for Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but it s going to become a challenge as supply shortages mount. Paul Magel, the president of business applications at CGS Computer Generated Solutions said apparel and footwear sectors are positioned for a strong holiday season, but fulfilling demand won t be an easy feat.
Currently, many retailers are low on inventory and don t have definitive dates to restock their shelves. Holiday shoppers will contend with higher costs and shortage of inventory he shared. Supply chains are complex and interconnected — whether it is a blockage in the Suez Canal, a fire at a chemical factory or shutdowns from a pandemic, when any link in that chain is disrupted, the impact can be felt globally. To try and minimize the effects of shipping delays and supply shortages, Hilal said direct-to-consumer brands might be a helpful alternative during the busy holiday season.
In her words, it would be beneficial for consumers this season to explore new brands that may not be their typical go-to.