SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – Consumers between the ages of 18-35 are more likely to increase their budgets this holiday season compared to other age groups, according to a recent survey conducted by Outbrain, a leading recommendation platform for the open web. The survey goes on to find that those over 56 are more likely to keep the same spending habits.
Results from the company’s Consumer Insights for the 2021 Holiday Shopping Season survey, which surveyed more than 8,000 consumers worldwide, across the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Israel, found that speed of delivery has now topped the list of consumer expectations. Globally, 52% of consumers ranked speed of delivery as influencing their purchase decisions, followed by 38% of respondents valuing free/discounted shipping. When making purchasing decisions, shoppers globally are driven by certain brand values, with 54% valuing brand accessibility/availability, followed by sustainability (47%) and brands that support local businesses (43%).
Marketers looking to capture the attention of shoppers this holiday season should identify key digital tactics that can turn browsers into buyers. Globally, 61% of consumers identified watching a video about a product as important to their decision-making process. Besides video, 45% of consumers globally identify swipeable ads as the most engaging type of ad when browsing online.
Ayal Steiner, VP, Global Ad Revenue at Outbrain, commented: “These findings are ultimately a growth playbook for retailers and other DTC brands as we head into the busiest time of the year. The results help us and our partners hone in on high-value customer segments, understand the ad experiences that have the best impact such as video and carousel, and refine messaging to target consumer needs such as speed of delivery.”
In the last year, 71% of consumers globally also purchased a product outside of their home market, a trend that Outbrain expects to continue into the holiday season. Furthermore, 57% of global consumers only start planning their Black Friday purchases a few days or up to two weeks ahead.
Steiner added: “There is a real opportunity to break geographical boundaries and target customers around the world. Brands need to take advantage of efficient pricing in October and November to cultivate their global audience and drive brand consideration in advance of key holiday shopping periods.”
Brands can learn more in the report “Consumer Insights for the 2021 Holiday Shopping Season.”
