54. November = Christmas.

If you haven’t noticed it yet, it’s here. Lurking, sneaking, waiting to pounce on the unsuspecting.
If you haven’t noticed it yet…IT MIGHT BE TOO LATE!

Melodrama aside, the holiday season is here! Sure, it’s only November 2nd, but in the blink of an eye you’ll be making that mad, last-minute dash to the store for wrapping paper, that present you forgot about, or Christmas cookie mix for a potluck. I’ve already seen Christmas in-store displays, slowly appearing.

I stumbled upon this post on Ad Week yesterday, which shares a lovely infographic about the way people shop and interact with stores via multiple digital devices during the holiday shopping histeria season.

This section of the infographic is my favorite.

Generally, I think I fall into the tiny 17% category of visiting the store first. This is especially true when it comes to clothes. I like to be able to try on an outfit, get a feel for it, then browse the retailer website to see different colors, sizes and other options. If the product is something like a CD or book, I’m more likely to research online and buy online. I guess I’m a category jumper in this poll.

My mom says for her, it’s all about availability and price. She’d rather buy it online for less and wait a week to get it than go to a store just because it’s only 5 minutes away.

Since quite a few people seem to research online, visit the store, then return home to buy online, it seems like it would be beneficial for stores to set up an online ordering station in the store. Of course many clothing stores are happy to order something for you on the spot, but you have to talk to one of the store clerks to set it up. People could also just carry their smart phones and tablets to the store with them, then place the order on their device in the store. If a store could provide a quick and convenient way for people to place an order online as they leave the store, I think customers would definitely use it! It would also need to be more convenient than just whipping out your smart phone and pulling up the company web site.

What  category do you fall into?

P.S. At the grocery store today, ALL the Halloween decorations were on sale and the store clerks were hauling out crates of Christmas candy and a few Holiday Barbies. It’s starting!

---