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Online Holiday Shopping Trends: Is Your Site Ready for Q4?

Author: Tom Cottrill | Date Posted: Oct 1, 2020

99.5% of establishments are requiring shoppers to wear a mask. And many stores are shutting down dressing rooms and adding limitations to the number of people inside the store at one time. With all of these changes, it’s no wonder many shoppers are already setting their sights online for holiday shopping this year.

This probably comes as no big shock, considering the digital boom many eCommerce retailers have experienced since COVID-19 hit. Whether people are trying to limit exposure, follow social distancing guidelines, or just avoid all the anti-maskers, online shopping is continuing to grow. In fact, according to DigitalCommerce360, online merchants have already gained an additional $107 billion in revenue due to the pandemic.

So, how can you make sure your eCommerce site is ready for the shift in shopping trends for the 2020 holiday season? We’ve got you covered.

What We Know Big Retailers Are Doing for the 2020 Holiday Season

Luckily, some major retailers are already making decisions about how they will handle this year’s holiday sales. Major retailers including Walmart, Target, Kohl’s, Ulta, and Home Depot have all announced they will close their stores on Thanksgiving this year. What does this mean for Black Friday? Companies are getting creative.

Just some of the ways major retailers are shifting their strategies for the holiday season in a post-COVID world include:

1. Black Friday deals will be offered in-store and online to avoid the traditional chaotic approach.
2. Many stores are spreading major deals throughout the season to lengthen the shopping window.
3. Deals are starting earlier than ever to accommodate the shoppers who are choosing to spread out costs by shopping well before Black Friday.
4. The increasing availability of items that have been in high demand since the pandemic hit. This includes workout equipment, electronics, loungewear, and more.
5. Considering a 10.10 Shopping Festival to shift consumerism to earlier in the season.

While all of these changes may seem confusing because they are different than years past, this shift in buying habits could be a good thing for your business.

How to Prep Your Website for the Holiday Shopping Season

When it comes to tackling your website for the holiday rush, it can seem like you don’t know where to start. You’re probably not alone. As many major retailers make major changes to their online shopping experience amidst the pandemic, it might make you re-evaluate your site as well.

Since Q4 is right around the corner, you might not have the time for a complete overhaul, but there are certainly ways you can improve the shopping experience for your customers to increase sales and snag a piece of the pie this holiday season.

• Make basic improvements to the shopping experience that streamline things for the user. Think about eliminating unnecessary steps in the checkout process, making it easier to add items to the cart from a navigation page, or improving the search function on your website. Since time is tight, stick with initiatives that will give you the biggest bang for your buck. Learn more about .identifying functionality improvements.
• Add curbside pickup to your current set of offerings. One thing major retailers have very quickly adopted during COVID-19 is a curbside pickup. By making this an option during checkout, you can capture a wider range of customers who are trying to avoid crowds while still getting the items they want.
• Spread out your deals this season. Don’t be afraid to start early. While no one wants to be the person advertising Christmas sales before Halloween, you can start adding more promotions on the products that have been in higher demand since the pandemic hit.
• Add as many SKUs as you can to your website. The descriptions might not be perfect and the photos might not be high quality, but your customers can’t shop the items if they don’t exist online.

2020 is the year of change and as major retailers adapt, your business must do the same. Don’t let your business get left out this holiday season. Shift your priorities for Q4 and maximize your profits with an eCommerce website that is equipped to handle the biggest shopping season of the year. If you need support with your web development initiatives heading into Q4, Ignitro can help.

About Ignitro Studios

Since 2013, Ignitro Studios has been working to blend marketing and technology in support of agencies and other marketers. By understanding both sides of web development, we have a unique perspective and advantage within the industry. We provide design, development, project management, QA, and strategy, driving the bus so our clients don’t have to. We will work with our clients to get results while also empowering them to do their job better.
Learn more about Ignitro Studios.

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