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Holiday Shopping: Record 196.7M Americans Shopped Over Weekend
A record 196.7 million Americans shopped in stores and online during the five-day holiday shopping period from Thanksgiving Day through Cyber Monday, according to the annual survey released by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics. The total number of shoppers grew by nearly 17 million from 2021 and is the highest figure since NRF first started tracking this data in 2017.
“The Thanksgiving holiday shopping weekend is a tradition treasured by many American families,” said NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay. “As inflationary pressures persist, consumers have responded by stretching their dollars in any way possible. Retailers have responded accordingly, offering shoppers a season of buying convenience, matching sales and promotions across online and in-store channels to accommodate their customers at each interaction.
“It is important to note that while some may claim that retail sales gains are the result of higher prices, they must acknowledge the historic growth in consumers who are shopping in-store and online during the long Thanksgiving holiday weekend and into Cyber Monday. It is consumer demand that is driving growth.”
According to the survey, more than three-quarters (76 percent) of consumers say they shopped over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, up from 70 percent in 2021. The numbers shattered NRF’s initial expectations by more than 30 million.
Retailers saw a sizable uptick of in-store shoppers. More than 122.7 million people visited bricks-and-mortar stores over the weekend, up 17 percent from 2021. The number of online shoppers also grew, albeit at a slower pace. This year saw 130.2 million online shoppers, a 2 percent increase over 2021.
Black Friday continues to reign as the most favored day for in-store shopping. Approximately 72.9 million consumers opted for a more traditional in-person shopping experience, up from 66.5 million in 2021. The Saturday after Thanksgiving followed suit, with 63.4 million in-store shoppers, up from 51 million last year. A majority (77 percent) of Saturday shoppers indicated they shopped specifically for Small Business Saturday.
Black Friday was also the most popular day for online shopping, continuing a trend that started in 2019. Roughly 87.2 million consumers shopped online during Black Friday this year, in line with 2021. Similar to last year, 77 million people shopped online on Cyber Monday. A record 59 percent of online Cyber Monday shoppers used their mobile device, up from 52 percent in 2021.
The top destinations for Thanksgiving weekend shoppers were online (42 percent), department stores (42 percent), grocery stores and supermarkets (40 percent), clothing and accessories stores (36 percent) and discount stores (32 percent).
Consumers spent an average of $325.44 on holiday-related purchases over the course of the weekend, up from $301.27 in 2021. Of that amount, most ($229.21) was directed specifically toward gifts.
The vast majority of Thanksgiving weekend shoppers (90 percent) felt the deals were the same or better than last year.
“While Thanksgiving is no longer the starting point for holiday shopping, the five-day shopping period still plays an important role in the overall holiday season,” Prosper Executive Vice President of Strategy Phil Rist said. “On average, consumers say they are almost halfway (47 percent) done with their holiday shopping at this point in time, leaving plenty of room for additional purchases in the remaining weeks of the year.”
The top gifts purchased were clothing and accessories (bought by 50 percent of those surveyed), toys (31 percent), gift cards (27 percent), books/video games/other media (24 percent), food and candy (23 percent) and electronics (23 percent).
While early deals and sales did entice some to shop before mid-November, many still save the bulk of their shopping for November and December. More than half (56 percent) of shoppers said they took advantage of early holiday sales or promotions before Thanksgiving this year. One-quarter (24 percent) did so before Nov. 16 and another 36 percent shopped in the week leading up to Thanksgiving (Nov. 16-23).
NRF defines the holiday season as Nov. 1 through Dec. 31 and has forecast that retail sales will grow between 6 percent and 8 percent over 2021 to between $942.6 billion and $960.4 billion.
The survey of 3,326 adult consumers was conducted Nov. 23-27 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 1.8 percentage points.
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Atlanta Market Expands Home, Decor Resources
New resources in accent furnishings, one-of-a kind, vintage, textiles, pillows and more expand 350+ design-driven whole-home showroom offerings at Atlanta Market in Winter 2023. Complementing the resource growth – some six home decor showroom updates join the previously announced nearly 50 casual furniture showroom openings – is a series of buyer tours focused on product discovery and trends at the January 10-16, 2023, buying event.
“Exciting updates to the AmericasMart home décor offerings make Atlanta Market a top destination for designers and retailers this Winter,” said Scott Eckman, International Market Centers executive vice president, chief revenue officer. “New, trend-driven product abounds with updates from home décor leaders adding to significant new resources in our all-new casual furniture and outdoor living collection.”
Winter 2023 home decor updates bring new resources to the more than 300 showrooms presenting lighting, accent furniture, rugs, wall décor and linens and nearly 50 new showrooms presenting casual furniture on 12 floors in AmericasMart Building 1.
Buyers sourcing in Atlanta Market’s home and décor offerings have more to explore in Winter 2023 with the launch of a new casual furniture and outdoor living destination. The Casual/Outdoor Furnishings collection’s location on Floors 2-5 of AmericasMart Building 1 encourages home buyers to discover new resources in the lucrative outdoor living sector.
New buyers and veterans looking for new resources can explore Atlanta Market’s home décor offerings in a series of guided tours at the Winter 2023 Market. The New Buyer Tour: CASUAL in Casual/Outdoor Furnishings collection is on Tuesday, January 10 at 9 a.m. The home furnishings temporary exhibits are a stop on the New Buyer Tour: TEMPORARIES on Wednesday, January 11 at 9 a.m. New Buyer Tour: HOME is an overview of AmericasMart’s home furnishings resources on Thursday, January 12 at 9 a.m. Trending home décor product is featured in the New Buyer Tour: TRENDS on Friday, January 13 at 9 a.m. These tours are part of five days of designer-focused programming set for Atlanta Market. A full list of programming is forthcoming.
Read more in the January issue of Kitchenware News & Housewares Review.
Gift for Life Raises Record Donations
Gift for Life, the gift and home industries’ sole charity, marked its 30th anniversary by raising more money than ever for charitable causes. The total of $160,495 raised was through 15 fundraising campaigns held during 2022 including several new initiatives. Since its founding in 1992, the all-volunteer organization has motivated the gift and home industry to donate more than $6 million in connection with at-market events, cause marketing initiatives and direct donations.
“This year was record setting in several ways,” said Peter Schauben, Gift for Life founder. “We raised more money, we held more fundraising events and we launched new initiatives in order to help more people. It’s immensely gratifying that representatives from all areas of our industry – brands, buyers, sales agencies, market makers, media and industry suppliers – have stepped up to support our efforts so whole-heartedly.”
The record-setting 2022 fundraising benefitted Gift For Life’s current pandemic-inspired focus on crisis-related hunger relief as well its legacy mission connected to HIV/AIDS treatment, prevention, education and advocacy. The majority of funds was raised for World Central Kitchen through more than a dozen fundraisers. In addition, a record $48,091 was raised by the 2022 Gift For Life/NY NOW AIDS Walk New York team.
Two additional fundraising initiatives – Crystal Media’s 10th Anniversary campaign and H.E.L.P. by T. Jazelle’s “Give Back Collection” custom-designed bracelet – will extend into 2023.
In the meantime, donations in honor of Gift for Life’s 30th Anniversary will be accepted through year-end at https://donate.wck.org/GFL30.
Read more about Gift for Life in the January issue of Kitchenware News & Housewares Review.
Williams-Sonoma Brands Launch Halloween Goods
Williams-Sonoma, Inc., the world’s largest digital-first, design-led and sustainable home retailer, launched Halloween season across the company’s entire portfolio of brands. Williams Sonoma, West Elm, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids and Mark & Graham have all moved up the launch of Halloween goods including festive tabletop, glassware, barware, entertaining, décor and costume collections to accommodate the early increase in demand for seasonal items as customers show interest in starting the celebration of Halloween earlier than ever before.
“Our in-house design teams – across all brands – have created a Halloween assortment that offers our customers unmatched quality and imaginative details that make you want to celebrate at the first sight of fall,” said Williams-Sonoma, Inc. President and CEO, Laura Alber. “Our customers know they can come to us for everything they need to create magical memories this Halloween season, whether they are celebrating at home by cooking, baking, decorating, hosting a party or dressing up in costumes as a family.”
Customers shopping and searching the Williams Sonoma website and retail stores, will find the brand’s largest Halloween collection to date. To help customers celebrate in style, Williams Sonoma expanded the brand’s most popular Halloween collections by offering 25% more product than previous years. New additions to the brand’s popular collaboration with PEANUTS feature Snoopy, Woodstock and Charlie Brown on items ranging from food and tabletop pieces to baking tools and glassware.
Collectors of William Sonoma’s in-house designed seasonal tabletop collections, will find new items for festive celebrations that perfectly complement new Halloween-inspired cocktail mixes, perishable food items and confections. In addition to new line extensions of popular collections, the Williams Sonoma brand also has exciting new Halloween product collaborations with Flour Shop, Butter Love & Hard Work, Pottery Barn Kids, Georgetown Cupcakes, Dash and more. The full Williams Sonoma Halloween assortment of tabletop, food, baking and tools, and décor can be found both in stores and online at Williams-Sonoma.com/Halloween.
Global design company West Elm has also launched an expanded Halloween assortment with even more design innovation to help customers celebrate the season in style. From slithering Metal Snake covered wine glasses to Terracotta Skull Candle Holders, the West Elm Halloween goods assortment has everything customers will need to curate a home that screams spooky-chic. Festive Halloween dinnerware and Trick-or-Treat Pillow Sets add a sweet edge to the collection. Customers are invited to shop the full assortment at westelm.com and can join the conversation on social with @westelm.
Pottery Barn has expanded their Halloween assortment with everything needed to get into the holiday spirit, from enchanted lanterns and outdoor lit décor, to skeleton drinkware and bar tools. For customers looking for a festive tabletop, Pottery Barn launched spirited dinnerware featuring friendly ghosts and pretty pumpkins for the ultimate Halloween spread. There’s also a range of new playful pillows, from cozy pumpkins in seasonal fall colors, to a ghost and bat shaped pillow in soft sherpa. The brand also launched additions to the PEANUTS collection with new tabletop and outdoor décor that brings the beloved comic-strip nostalgia to every home. Customers can visit Pottery Barn’s Halloween Shop for the full offering.
Pottery Barn Kids launched a Halloween assortment with trend-forward new styles and product innovations in costumes, treat bags, accessories, bedding, décor, and tabletop offered in the brand’s Halloween shop. From family costumes available in newborn through adult sizes, to festive bedding, Pottery Barn Kids is a one-stop-shop for any Halloween celebration. Customers looking for costumes will find Pottery Barn Kids offers options ranging from kid-favorite characters to spooky classics in a variety of styles. Finished with garment quality stitching, the costumes feature magical details that stand out, such as light-up LED capabilities and glow-in-the-dark icons. The brand’s in-house design atelier thoughtfully creates each piece with quality and style in mind. To match the costumes, customers can also add Pottery Barn Kids’ coordinating accessories and treat bags that can be personalized in a range of font and color options for a complete look. Pottery Barn Teen designed Halloween Bat string lights to add spooky detail to any space, and festive themed pajamas to get into the Halloween spirit. Customers can shop the Pottery Barn Kids Halloween and Pottery Barn Teen assortment by visiting PotteryBarnKids.com and PBTeen.com, and join the conversation on social media @potterybarnkids and @potterybarnteen.
For additional options in personalized Halloween celebrations, Mark & Graham is debuting the brand’s most extensive Halloween goods collection to date, offering items in key categories which include entertainment, home décor, games, accessories, and pet apparel. All items can be personalized with festive phrases, monograms, as well as bat and pumpkin icons. This year’s Mark & Graham Halloween goods collection ranges from a new Ghost Cheese Board to a customer favorite Candy Corn Dog Sweater. Additionally, the brand created a curated shop featuring inspiring ideas for product personalization with phrases like, “Here for the Boos,” “Eat, Drink & Be Scary” and “Witch’s Brew” on some of the other most popular entertainment items for Halloween parties.
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Dairy Queen Debuts Pillow Collection
In anticipation of the new Fall Blizzard Treat Menu, American Dairy Queen Corporation is debuting a festive throw pillow collection, designed and scented to flavor your home. Available in two sets of three pillows inspired by – and scented as – the new Fall Blizzard Treat Menu, the pillow flights add a touch of seasonal inspiration to your space while filling it with the sweet smells of fall, including cinnamon, pumpkin and more.
Perfectly designed for the season, the first pillow flight centers around a soft swirled cinnamon roll-shaped pillow that looks and smells fresh out of the oven in honor of the Cinnamon Roll Centers Blizzard Treat. It’s accompanied by two square accent pillows in shades of cocoa and rich cream for the OREO Hot Cocoa Blizzard Treat, and red and pink for the Very Cherry Chip Blizzard Treat, putting the cherry on top of any space.
The second pillow flight offers fragrant fresh-baked flair with a statement pillow scented and designed like a slice of pumpkin pie for the Pumpkin Pie Blizzard Treat. It’s accented by square pillows that feature a seasonal sprinkle of chocolate, caramel and cream for the SNICKERS Brownie Blizzard Treat and a rich orange, perfectly hued and scented like the REESE’S Take 5 Blizzard Treat.
“Each year, our Fall Blizzard Treat Menu offers the popular flavors of fall, and the new pillow flights bring our fan-favorite treats to life in a fresh way with scents and style,” said Maria Hokanson, executive vice president, marketing at ADQ. “Our fans will be inspired to grab a Blizzard Treat, snuggle up and take in the scents of the season with friends and family.”
Fans can enter for a chance to win* one of the Blizzard Treat-scented pillow flights by heading to @DairyQueen Instagram, Facebook or Twitter between Sept. 7-16 and look for posts dedicated to the Fall Blizzard Treat Menu Pillow Flight. There, they can enter by following @DairyQueen and commenting with their favorite Fall Blizzard Treat Menu flavor and using #DQPillowSweepstakes (limit one comment per post). Full sweepstakes rules can be found at DQ.com.
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