Despite forecasts of economic gloom, Christmas shoppers are
planning to spend the same amount as they did last year, according
to new research from Accenture. Its study found that 11% of
respondents would make the internet their first choice shopping
destination, compared to 83% citing physical shops. Forty-three
percent said they do not plan to shop more on the internet than
they did last year, on the most part because they prefer physical
shops.
Almost one-quarter (23%) of respondents said that they do expect
to shop more on the internet than they did last year. Of those, 63%
cited the convenience of on-line shopping, 15% said they find more
sales and promotions on-line, and 11% enjoyed the ability to make
purchases online and have items shipped directly to friends and
family. Thirty-three percent of respondents planned to shop on-line
the same amount as last year.
The largest percentage of respondents – 44% - said their
Christmas spending would be the same as last year, predicting a
total spend of between $200 and $499. Forty-three percent said
that, due to the economic downturn, they would look for more sales
and promotions.
