Work already underway for next retail holiday – Valentine’s Day

Online sales nearly $70 higher than in-store shoppers

The retail weary are thrilled the holiday season is behind us. For retailers, however, they’re focusing on making us aware of the first big shopping day of the year — Valentine’s Day.

While they are focusing on boosting sales during the traditionally slow months of January and February, merchandise is already on display in retailers throughout the country, reminding us of the upcoming holiday for lovers.

Putting wallet where the heart is 

Why is the emphasis high? Because we tend to put our wallet where our heart is. Last year, consumers were expected to spend $103 on the day for lovers, according to a survey conducted by BIGresearch. While most celebrating the holiday purchase their chocolates and cards from brick-and-mortar stores, online retailers still have much to rejoice.

Those who shop online for their Valentine spend $68.81 more than those who shop in stores.  Last year, about 20% of consumers shopped online for Valentine’s Day, according to research from Shop.org.

Will this year be different? Online retailers have an number of routes to pursue in attracting Valentine’s Day shoppers.  The tried and true tactics – starting with email marketing – are the most effective methods, according to new research from ForeSee Results. It conducted a survey of online shoppers to understand how they arrived at their destination.

• 19% — driven to an online site via email
• 8% — arrived from results on a search engine
• 5% — ended up at a store because of something on a social media site, such as Facebook or Twitter

About 14% of those surveyed said they accessed a retail website through a mobile phone, primarily to check prices or locate an item – not to make a purchase. Of those surveyed, 11% said they bought something using their mobile device during the holidays.