Study: Retailers may make bank on toys

This holiday season, look for toys to make the difference for many retailers. At least for retailers of the discount variety. According to new data out from Harris Poll about half of holiday shoppers will be buying toys over the holiday season but only one-third will purchase online. Most will be buying in-store, it seems.

by Kristina Knight

According to the Harris data more than half of kids are hoping to unwrap a gaming console on Christmas morning. As for parents, 43% say they'll buy books and 39% will be wrapping up board games for the holidays. About one-third say they'll buy arts/crafts or dolls; 27% of parents say they'll shell out for a gaming console.

Meanwhile, new data out from Placed shows Thanksgiving Day is quickly gaining on traditional shopping powerhouse days like Black Friday and Cyber Monday. According to their report nearly half of shoppers plan to hit stores on Black Friday while just over 20% plan to shop on Thanksgiving Day. The survey further found:

• 54% of shoppers will buy in-store on Thanksgiving Day, 63% on Black Friday
• Black Friday shoppers are more likely to be young and have children in the home
• 43% of Black Friday shoppers will showroom

Because so many people will be out and about looking for deals, Placed suggests retailers use location based targeting to engage shoppers during the busy Thanksgiving Weekend. According to company numbers, when applying Placed Targeting in Dallas, Texas, more than one-quarter of shops within 5 miles of the city center were 'high affinity' for Black Friday shoppers.

Image via Shutterstock

Tags: 2013 ecommerce tips, 2013 holiday shopping, ecommerce trends, Harris Interactive, holiday ecommerce, Placed