Statistics to help prepare your e-commerce store for Christmas

Read this blog to discover statistics to help prepare your e-commerce store for Christmas.

Yes, we know. Thinking about Christmas already is somewhat a shocking concept, but there is no such thing as being too prepared for the big day! Now is the perfect time to begin planning and preparing your e-commerce store so you aren’t left scrambling to catch up as the winter months hit.

Surprisingly, Christmas shopping begins in August with savvy UK consumers looking to purchase Christmas gifts outside of the traditional Christmas retail period. In years gone by, there has been a clear seasonal sales period, but during a time of economic uncertainty shoppers are choosing to bag the best deals ahead of time.

But what does this mean for e-commerce stores and e-commerce store owners? With searches for ‘Christmas gift ideas’ on the rise already, now is a good time to begin planning your sales strategy and seasonal promotions.

By planning and preparing early on, you can take advantage of the Christmas rush with increased conversions and a boost in sales. The earlier you begin your sales preparation, the more time you have to finalise details and provide a quality service.

There is so much to think about, from considering your marketing strategy to finalising your returns policy, so be sure to leave yourself plenty of time.

To help you understand how UK consumers shop at Christmas, this blog will mention statistics so your e-commerce store can efficiently and effectively prepare for the holiday season.

The average spending of British households in December is 29 per cent higher than the rest of the year.

Each year, the average spending of a British household in December is 29 per cent higher than the rest of the year. Further studies suggest that the sales numbers of computers and phones are up 61 per cent and clothing by 49 per cent compared to the other 11 months of the year.

This shows that UK households are prepared to spend more at Christmas, and for e-commerce store owners, this is sure to be welcomed news. To leverage this, it is important to cater to what consumers are asking for. If you can provide shoppers with the ultimate Christmas gift, the sale is likely to be yours.

74 per cent of Brits do their festive shopping exclusively online.

Online shopping is on the up with 74 per cent of Brits shopping online for their Christmas gifts. This is excellent news for e-commerce stores looking to boost sales during the festive season.

To stand out among competitors to convert leads into sales, it is important to establish your identity online. Thousands of e-commerce stores sell the same or similar products, so it is essential that consumers are drawn to your business. You can build brand awareness by engaging with, researching, and communicating with your target audience.

44 per cent of Britons plan on finishing their Christmas shopping before Black Friday.

Just under half of Britons plan on finishing their Christmas shopping before Black Friday. This year, Black Friday takes place on Friday 29th November, nearly a whole month before Christmas Day. This is a key example as to why e-commerce stores must prepare for the occasion well in advance. Online sellers who fail to prepare in time, will miss the opportunity to boost sales and profits.

Over half of Brits plan to start shopping for Christmas gifts before December.

Furthermore, over half of Brits plan to start shopping for Christmas gifts before December. Another reason as to why preparation is key. With consumers beginning to buy presents earlier each year, this comes as no surprise.

However, 11 per cent of shopper says they see no rush and begin shopping mid-December. So, if your e-commerce store offers an optimised checkout experience with fast and free delivery, you may be able to secure some last minute Christmas sales.

“Thoughtful” is the word that best describes the gifts that 56 per cent of Brits will be buying for Christmas.

Thoughtful, functional, and creative are all words that best describe the types of gifts Brits plan on buying this season. They want their gift selection to be meaningful to family and friends. This provides important insight into what shoppers will be searching for online.

To capitalise on this information, e-commerce stores should optimise the use of keywords in listings to attract buyers. ‘Unique Christmas gift’, ‘thoughtful presents’, and ‘meaningful gifts’ are examples as to how you can cater to your audiences search and maximise Christmas sales.

Next steps

Now you have a good idea of some of the top statistics shaping how consumers are set to shop on the lead up to Christmas, here are a few ways you can use those to prepare your e-commerce store, prioritising customer satisfaction and an icrease in sales:

• Use your own website and sales analytics from previous years to anticipate customer demand.
• Prepare your website ahead of time so it is ready for the influx of customers across the season. You should also make sure all of your product descriptions, images and prices are up to date.
• Start your promotions early to give your customers plenty of time to shop with you, using social media, online ads and email marketing campaigns to help spread the word.
• Make sure your inventory is well stocked and able to cover expected demand.
• Offer reliable shipping options that are fast and dependable.
• Plan ahead for customer service – perhaps add a holiday FAQ page to your website.
• Optimise your website for mobile orders.
• Update your website with holiday-focused category pages to make your products easier to find.

Why choose Unicorn Accounting?

At Unicorn Accounting we are e-commerce accountants who help make your online business a growing success. We offer e-commerce accounting advice, financial management, bookkeeping, cash flow statement, and tax filing services to support and scale your business.

To maximise the scalability of your e-commerce brand all year round, get in touch with Unicorn Accounting today.

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