Ah, Christmas! The most awaited time of the year by children all over the world, synonymous with festivities, reunions and… gifts. For businesses, the Christmas shopping period is often the most prosperous: don’t miss the opportunity, unleash your creativity and start creating gift ideas to propose on your e-commerce site to boost your Christmas figures.
So what do the Christmas 2021 statistics tell us? In a context of economic crisis and reduced purchasing power, will the French reduce their Christmas shopping budget, buy online or focus on local purchases? What are their intentions for the holidays? Have they started to buy their gifts, and what do these first statistics show?
Let’s lift the suspense, let’s take a look at Christmas 2021 in figures to help you adapt your e-commerce strategy.
1. Online Christmas shopping is on the rise
After record online sales growth in 2020 amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, the increase is expected to continue in 2021. Around the world, more and more consumers are doing their holiday shopping online.
According to Salesforce’s predictions for Christmas 2021, more than $1.2 trillion is expected to be spent globally, a 7 percent increase over 2020.
Another even more bluffing Christmas figure: in 2020, 89% of French people intended to order their Christmas shopping online (TNS-Soffres, 2020.)
The e-commerce figures attest to the increasingly important role of online shopping, adopted by a large part of the population.
On the supply side, many small businesses, entrepreneurs or small shops have opened their online store in response to the pandemic and to make themselves accessible to the largest number.
2. Christmas figures: when does Christmas shopping start?
We’re so used to the “gift rush the weekend before Christmas” reports that we don’t realize that consumers are much more forward thinking. And that could be even more the case this year with the announced toy shortages!
When asked “when to do your Christmas shopping?”, the French are surprising. Indeed, 58% of French consumers say they start their Christmas shopping in November (TNS-Soffres, 2020).
Black Friday and Cyber Monday really give the impetus to Christmas shopping. We’ve put together the Black Friday 2021 figures and a list of the top 10 products to sell for Black Friday this year, all with statistics and tips for e-tailers and dropshippers. Optimize your e-commerce marketing plan by planning a series of offers and promotions as early as possible.
3. A stable Christmas budget
In 2020, most French households celebrated Christmas in a modest way, often in small groups. But with one priority: to please the children.
Christmas 2021 should be no different and, according to a study on the French budget for Christmas gifts, families plan to spend an average of 131 euros on their children. For 7 parents out of 10, this is a stable budget.