Consumers to hunt for holiday bargains, NRF says-Market Survey-Magazine-IRISPANCY FASHION ACCESSORIES & JEWELRY

	Shopping bag \| \| My account \| Favorite \| Help \| Contact us \| Login or Register \| Logout

Jewelry \| Apparel & Accessories \| Bags & Accessories \| Magazine \| Business & Franchise Necklaces \| Bracelets \| Earrings \| Rings \| Pendants \| Jewelry Sets Brooches \| Hair Accessories \| Belts \| Caps \| Scarves \| Gloves \| Shoes \| Socks IRISPANCY Bags \| IRISPANCY Bags Accessories Vogue and Trend \| Mix and Match \| Celebrity \| Fortune \| Fun and Love \| Small Business \| Product knowledge \| Market Survey \| Expo Information \| Industry News Boutiques \| Sales Policy \| Franchise \| Events and Activities \| OEM and ODM

Magazine > Market Survey > News Content

Consumers to hunt for holiday bargains, NRF says

10/20/2009 3:31:21 PM

Washington--U.S. consumers plan to spend about 3.2 percent less on holiday-related shopping this year, according to the National Retail Federation's (NRF) 2009 Holiday Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey, released Tuesday.

Conducted by BIGresearch, the survey showed that U.S. consumers plan to spend an average of $682.74 on holiday-related shopping come, compared to the $705.01 the NRF estimates they spent in 2008.

"While last holiday season was filled with chaotic confusion, adjusting to uncertainty has now become routine for many Americans," NRF President and Chief Executive Officer Tracy Mullin said in a news release. "This holiday season will be a bit of a dance between retailers and shoppers, with each group feeling the other out to understand how things have changed and how they must adapt."

Americans' new focus on bargain hunting is shifting many shoppers' priorities.
According to the survey, more than half of holiday shoppers cited sales and price discounts (43.3 percent) or everyday low prices (12.7 percent) as the most important factor in deciding where to shop.

Emphasis on selection (21.0 percent), quality (11.8 percent), convenience (4.9 percent) and customer service (4.4 percent) declined as compared to last year, according to the survey.

Given this information, it is not surprising that when asked where they would shop, the majority of holiday shoppers (70.1 percent) said discounters, though more than half (55.8 percent) also said they planned to shop at department stores.

Also on shoppers' radar are grocery stores (45.0 percent), the Internet (42.4 percent), clothing stores (33.8 percent) and electronics stores (31.8 percent).
In addition, 11.4 percent of holiday shoppers will buy gifts or other holiday-related merchandise at thrift stores or resale shops.

In order to compensate for soft sales, retailers are cutting back on inventory, a trend with which retail jewelers can identify.

According to the NRF's Port Tracker report, released in September and available here, traffic to the nation's ports has scaled back to levels not seen since 2003.

"In anticipation of weak demand, many retailers scaled back on inventory levels to prevent unplanned markdowns at the end of the season," Mullin said in the release. "Once the most popular items are gone, retailers won't have anywhere to get them, so if there was ever a holiday season to buy early, this is it."

Whether shoppers are taking this advice to heart or are trying to stretch out spending over a longer period of time, many holiday shoppers are starting early, with the survey showing that 39 percent of Americans plan to begin their holiday shopping before Halloween.

As in previous years, three-fourths of holiday budgets will be spent on gifts, with spending on family members slipping 2 percent ($387.06 in 2009 versus $395.15 in 2008); spending on gifts for friends ($66.77 versus $80.13 in 2008) and co-workers ($19.26 versus $22.63 in 2008) declining by double digits; and spending on gifts for "others," such as teachers and clergy, falling 5 percent ($34.81 versus $36.88 in 2008).

Candy and food spending may be one bright spot this year, with the average spend in that category increasing $10, while spending on other non-gift categories, such as decorations ($40.75 versus $43.45 in 2008), greeting cards and postage ($26.77 versus $27.39 in 2008) and flowers ($17.05 versus $19.10 in 2008) is expected to drop.

Though Americans were less inclined to purchase gift cards last season, the popular gifts retain their spot at the top of the list among recipients.

According to the survey, 55.2 percent of adults would like to receive a gift card this season, with clothing (48.8 percent), books and DVDs (48.6 percent) and electronics (33.2 percent) topping the list.

"While the economic climate has shown some improvement from last holiday season, retailers are not out the woods yet," Phil Rist, executive vice president of strategic initiatives at BIGresearch, said in the release. "With a variety of factors still up in the air, including uncertainty over job security, many Americans just aren't buying into the talk of recovery."

The NRF continues to forecast that 2009 holiday sales will be down 1 percent, totaling $437.6 billion.

	Related News
	- NRF: Retail sales up 0.5 percent in September(10-15)
	- NRF: Holiday sales to decline 1 percent(10-11)
	- NY Fashion Week to push stylish consumers to spend(9-10)
	- Holiday budgets stick with consumers(9-8)
	- Premium denim still hot with U.S. consumers, investors(9-4)
	- Study: North American consumers still wary(7-28)
	- NRF: June retail sales slide 0.2 percent(7-16)
	- Rocky inks deal with Garlands to distribute hunting gear in UK(7-10)
	- De Beers expecting jollier holiday season(6-5)
	- Will interactive displays appeal to consumers?(5-27)

Bussiness Partnership

Jewelry business opportunity

FAQ about products

JP Renaissance Enterprises Corporation, an active fashion and gift company that provides fashion accessories and jewelry. We expanded our branches in Asia and North America, now, we devote ourselves on globalization by deploying unique designs and concepts. Our designers put their efforts on introducing innovative ideas, integrating creative and trendy elements and developing new style, such as integrating the nature into our products. Our fashion accessories and jewelry are capable to give you a different fashion ideas, a different way to dress, and can surprise your friends, lover, parents, clients by sending them special gifts on holiday or in special events. The products are not only fashion symbols but also tools to communicate, for example, you can use our new fashion and gift guides as an interesting topic among girls, or share the experience of our online jewelry store or the latest shoes. hats and socks with your friends..

Furthermore, we provide incredible bags shops and popular hair accessories knowledge with professional wholesale and retail business. for examples, we not only sell wedding jewelry, leather bracelets, ancient Egyptian jewelry and sterling silver rings as a manufacturer and wholesaler, but also provide prevalent dressing directory. Besides, while outputing luxurious goods and service, we also offer value packs and free gift cards, such as payless dress, wholesale caps on special events.

Clients all over the world can enjoy our products and service through the internet. For instance, buyers from - - Wakayama - Japan, - - Chiba - Japan and Edinburgh - - - UK.

Our online Fashion Magazine, on the other hand, presents information about top holiday gifts guides, hair styles, life style trends, potfolio fashion tips, what to wear on business days, dressing tips, dressing guides or general fashion tips for women and for men, hats and socks industry news, product kownledge about cashmere socks, spike heels and party hat runescape, fashion shows...

www.irispancy.com IRISPANCY FASHION ACCESSORIES & JEWELRY