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From browsing to buying, the Internet plays a larger role than ever in holiday shopping. Shoppers, who are expected to spend at least $791.10 each this year on holiday merchandise, will use the Internet for an average of one-fourth (28.9%) of their shopping.
Though nearly half (47.1%) of consumers plan to make at least one holiday purchase online this year, up from 36.0 percent from a few years ago, many will also use the Internet to browse before heading to stores to buy. According to the survey, most consumers (88.7%) regularly or occasionally examine products on the Internet before buying in a store.
When it comes to researching merchandise, electronics are the most popular searches; more than one-third of online shoppers (39.3%) said they have browsed for electronics online before buying in a store within the last 90 days. Other popular merchandise that shoppers have recently studied online before buying in a store is apparel (20.0%), appliances (19.6%) and home improvement items (18.0%). Consumers also said they have researched medicines, vitamins and supplements (16.2%) and shoes (16.1%) online before purchasing in a store.
Shoppers use a variety of websites to research and compare products. Many consumers said they begin their online research at Google.com Yahoo.com Amazon.com and eBay were other popular places for shoppers to begin searching for merchandise availability, prices and product specifics.
Christmas Food & Fun Facts
CHRISTMAS TREES
Christmas trees have been sold commercially in the United States since about 1850.In 1979, the National Christmas Tree was not lighted except for the top ornament. This was done in honor of the American hostages in Iran.
The tallest living Christmas tree is believed to be the 122-foot, 91-year-old Douglas fir in the town of Woodinville, Washington.
In 1923, President Calvin Coolidge started the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony now held every year on the White House lawn.
Christmas trees are grown in all 50 states including Hawaii and Alaska.
EGGNOG
According to reports by Captain John Smith, the first eggnog made in the United States was consumed in his 1607 Jamestown settlement. Nog comes from the word grog, which refers to any drink made with rum.
SPEAKING OF HOLIDAY CARDS AND PACKAGES
20 billion is the number of letters, packages and cards the U.S. Postal Service expects to deliver between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year. The busiest mailing day this year is expected to be Dec. 18, with more than twice as many cards and letters being processed as the average on any given day.
A FRUIT CAKE FACT
When a research firm polled some 1,000 adults about what they did with fruitcake, 38% said they gave it away, 28% actually ate it, 13% used it as a doorstop, 9% scattered it for the birds, 4% threw it out, and 8% couldn't remember. Russell Baker, The New York Times.