4 important stats to prepare you for the festive sales season

Autumn is officially here and that means one very important thing – the festive shopping season has arrived. Although we are not yet into October, Prime Day, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are within touching distance. This year though, they don’t mark the start of the holiday shopping season; the unusual circumstances of 2020 mean that it has begun before we even hit the last quarter of the year and that means, now is the time to get prepared to maximise sales from your apps in this most critical of periods.

If your small business app has an online shop or e-commerce functionality, here are 8 important stats to get you set for a profitable run-up to the holiday season.

1. Presents are still front of mind during the pandemic

Research by Bazaarvoice tells us that presents are still on most people’s minds during the pandemic with 82% of shoppers saying that they still intend to buy gifts for their loved ones this year. Just over half (61%) say that they will budget the same amount as last year. This means that a large chunk of people will, on the contrary, be more cautious and planning to spend less. Don’t forget to cater to that demographic and share offers, promotions and incentives via your app as early as possible.

2. More shoppers are shopping more online

Thanks to the pandemic, shoppers around the world are buying more online than ever before. Globally, an average of 49% report an increase in online buying but, that figure is higher in some countries. In the UK for example, 58% of people are shopping more online. In Mexico, that figure leaps to 80% of shoppers, while in the US it is 62% and Canada, 59%.

3. Minimal contact shopping is preferable

Unsurprisingly, the options to purchase which minimise contact with others are more popular this year. Options like buying via a brand’s website, ordering on social media for home delivery and click-to-collect options are all more in demand this year. Consider how you can accommodate this via your business app to maximise sales and make the purchase process as stress free and convenient as possible for your customers.

4. Item value and cost important considerations

In addition to offering contactless options for consumers shopping on your app, you’ll also need to be mindful of changing thought processes and buyer criteria. We’ve already seen that a good proportion of consumers are going to reduce their gift giving budgets but, they are also thinking more about the value of an item and the cost of the individual gift.

Price is the number one factor for consumers, with 34% of shoppers saying that’s the most important consideration when deciding between various options, while 26% rely on product reviews. If you don’t already have reviews displayed for products you sell, introducing them to your product pages could help you to convert more customers this holiday season. Likewise, allowing shoppers to compare items and suggesting alternatives can be highly beneficial.