Last year, the average shopper dropped $802.45 during the holiday season, according to the National Retail Federation. That’s supposed to rise this year, and Baker Katz founder Kenneth Katz expects Houston sales increases to beat the national average.
Despite headlines that view Houston as an uncertain economy, Kenneth says retailers are seeing very solid sales and growth here. He forecasts a strong boost in Christmas shopping locally, about 4% over 2014. Nationwide, holiday sales are anticipated to increase 3.7%, well over the 10-year average of 2.5%. Kenneth expects December to be slightly disappointing relative to the norm, but that’s just because (as we’ve all noticed) the holiday season is getting longer. November sales should make up for a dip in December.
According to JLL’s 2015 holiday sentiment report, spearheaded by JLL CEO of the Americas Greg Maloney, nearly half of retailers started their Christmas shopping season on Nov. 1, and one-third will open on Thanksgiving Day to kick off Black Friday early. Despite the creep, nearly 80% of respondents expect to earn up to 40% of their holiday sales during Thanksgiving/Black Friday. (But note: ICSC’s 2015 holiday shopper survey found that only 12% of people plan to hit the shops on Thanksgiving, versus 41% who will brave the crowds on Black Friday.) Internet sales are still on the rise, but Kenneth says brick-and-mortar is also increasing, just at a slower rate. But Black Friday remains primarily an in-store deal, he says.
Houston’s largest bike retailer, Bike Barn, can attest to the benefits of going omni-channel—Bike Barn’s John Kelly tells us his team has focused on building up its social media following to ensure ads for its in-store holiday shopping initiatives reach as many consumers as possible. Bike Barn offers an online store, but the nature of its product pushes the majority of its transactions in-store—people want to sit on a bike before buying it. John tells us they also mix up the merchandise for the holiday season, making sure to stock options for every price point from stocking stuffers to premium must-haves and listing them in a custom gift buying guide. The best seller each Christmas: kids’ bikes.
Archives
- July 2022
- June 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- October 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- August 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- October 2019
- September 2019
- August 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- February 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- October 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- July 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014