Annually, Evans on Marketing offers a list of holiday shopping tips intended to help shoppers purchase the gifts they want. As well as to avoid overspending their budgets. Below, we offer our 2021 smart holiday shopping tips in the form of an infographic.
Again this year, holiday shoppers and businesses must deal with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, these tips are very important. We wish you happy, healthy, and smart shopping.
Yesterday, we reiterated that the holiday shopping season starts far in advance of Black Friday. Most retailers launch their holiday shopping campaigns well before Thanksgiving. Big time!
2020 Versus 2021 Holiday Shopping
Due to the economic slowdown during the 2020 holiday season, retailers had a lot of inventory on hand. Therefore, price promotions were rampant to clear out excess items. And shoppers had lots of choices in virtually every product category.
In comparison, 2021 holiday shopping seems to be somewhat less advantageous to consumers. Why?
- Huge breakdowns in the supply chain. Which will mean early out-of-stock positions for popular products. And less ability for firms to restock the merchandise that sells out.
- Rising costs. Which will mean higher prices than last year for many products. Currently, the inflation rate is 5.4 percent. A thirteen year high.
- Shortages of parts such as microchips, used in a wide range of products. Which will result in fewer new products.
- Labor shortages. Which will mean weaker customer service. Problems with giftwrapping. And slower response times to calls.
Evans on Marketing’s 2021 Smart Holiday Shopping Tips
Through the following infographic, we offer a number of tips for you to shop smarter. Indeed, there should a valuable tip for everyone here. And probably more than one. 🙂
So, here are our 2021 shopping tips as a checklist. Click the infographic to see a larger version.
By applying ALL of the tips in the infographic, you will be a much better holiday shopper. Start shopping now. Do not wait until Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or just before Christmas. Do not shop for all gifts at one time. Comparison shop prices for each big-ticket item. Do not be fooled into thinking that retailers offer discounts (“sales”) on all the products that they promote. Some products are at their regular selling prices. Be flexible and look for the best deals. And try not to rely on impulse shopping. Stick to a shopping list. In general, act as smart as you can while shopping.
Read the tips. Then enjoy your shopping. For additional tips, check out Good Housekeeping.
