Mistletoes, crackers, carols, turkey and Santa Claus. Yes, Christmas is around the corner, and it’s time to start thinking about what you’re going to put under that tree.
Although visiting toy stores is fun and exciting, a growing number of people are pressured for time and are less inclined to leave their homes to purchase gifts. The Internet has become a popular destination for online shopping. Popular digital toy stores include eBay, Kalahari.net, Amazon, E-toys.com, Toys R Us and Toy Guru. There are no queues and it is also much easier for mum to filter the types of toys her child sees and wants instead of having to deal with a 3rd aisle temper tantrum. So why isn’t everybody shopping online?
In many cases, consumers research toys online and search for the best prices and bargains. Even if they do not purchase online, they will go to the store where they found the toy at the best price and convenience.
From Marketwire - Consumer focused Shopping Survey (October 2009)
- More people plan to shop online during the holiday season this year (55%) compared to last year (49%) according to a 2009 survey by MarketLive and the E-Tailing Group
- More than a quarter (26%) of shoppers plan to buy more gifts online, up from 21 percent last year
- 85% of consumers report the main reason for shopping online is still time savings
- One in three shoppers plan to use a mobile phone for shopping-related purposes such as price checks, in-stock checks, and redemption of promotions this holiday season
- Social networking sites will influence shopping behavior for 37% of online shoppers versus 24% last year
- 80% of shoppers are willing to pay full price for hard-to-find products, customer conveniences and effective customer service such as an 800 number, online chat, simple-to-use order status, and email alerts when orders are shipped
- 40% and 38% of shoppers respectively also rate wish lists and reviews as increasingly important
- Books, clothing, music, gift certificates, toys, and consumer electronics are the top product categories shoppers are likely to purchase online by at least 33% of respondents
- 62% of shoppers report that high shipping charges remain the primary reason they will not buy more online, highlighting the fact that free shipping offers will again be very compelling this season
- In-store pick-up for products purchased online was cited as important by 60% of shoppers
Online toy shopping, convenient and helpful in avoiding in store angst. Image Credit: Stefan
From NDP.com - Toy Sales (August 2009)
- According to a 2009 report by The NPD Group seven out of ten toy purchases were planned but the vast majority of toy buyers (78%) prefer to buy in stores versus online because they are able to see the products before purchasing them
- This identifies the need to provide those who shop online with even more user-friendly search options for online purchasing such as category listings, product reviews, recommendations and filtering options," said Anita Frazier, industry analyst, The NPD Group
- "As we head into the critical holiday season, during which approximately 50% of annual toy revenues are generated, it's important for manufacturers and retailers to understand just what it is that drives toy purchase decisions among parents and gift-givers,” said Frazier
- Among all toy shoppers, a convenient store location and pricing are the most influential factors for choosing a retailer. The next set of most influential factors include assortment and selection. Results of the study also show that close to three-quarters of toy shoppers prefer one-stop shopping over visiting specialty stores, supporting an obvious advantage in the mass merchant channel
- 70% of toy buyers say they typically have a price in mind and then seek out a product that meets their criteria
- Of the unplanned purchases, nearly 66% were influenced by an item-related factor, with the primary reason being that the specific toy item was requested by the child. Two other competing factors include eye-catching packaging and product display. Analysis of the results also show that price point plays a significant role in making unplanned purchases, since the two categories with the most unplanned purchases also have the lowest average retail prices
Looking at the stats, it’s clear that online toy shopping is becoming more commonplace. As technology improves, while browsing for products becomes more sophisticated and user-friendly, it looks like Santa is starting to replace reindeer for broadband. So why don’t you get your Christmas shopping done early this year? Shop online!
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