Online retailers will highlight deals offering free shipping and exclusive online promotions in their efforts to draw shoppers, according to shop.org’s annual eHoliday survey conducted by BIGinsight.
According to the study, 61.6 percent of online retailers will begin their online holiday promotions by Halloween, up from 52.9 percent in last year’s survey. More than one-third, 38.4 percent, will start their promotions by mid-November or later.
In terms of free shipping, 89.7 percent of online retailers plan to offer some form of free shipping during the holidays. More than a third, 37.5 percent, said they would offer free shipping with conditions (minimum purchase, for example), while 30 percent said they would offer free shipping without conditions.
Promotions include coupons, limited-time-only deals and discounts on specific purchases. About one-half, 47.5 percent, of the online retailers said they will stress promotions with discounts that include a specific percent off their purchase, 12.5 percent plan to offer coupons with select dollars off their purchase and 32.5 percent will feature limited-time-only promotions.
Vicki Cantrell, shop.org executive director, said that “it’s evident that online retailers are already planning to go the extra mile for their customers this year. Consumers can expect even more of an integrated shopping experience this holiday season, with companies also looking to enhance their mobile marketing efforts to capture the attention of the millions of holiday shoppers who are already thinking about their shopping lists.”