Web to Drive Holiday Retail Sales

Published on November 2nd, 2009

It may not be happy holidays for the retail industry overall. But the Web should provide one bit of good cheer.

Retail sales will probably be flat this holiday season, but online sales are expected to reach $44.7 billion, an 8 percent jump over last year, according to the latest data from Forrester Research.

Among 4,000 online consumers surveyed, 94 percent have made a purchase online in the past three months and plan to do the same for the holidays. As for retailers, 72 percent of those questioned for the third-quarter Forrester report “The State of Retailing Online,” said they expect holiday sales to increase over last year.

But to cope with the down economy, online stores will try to weigh customer demand against the need to boost profits, says the Forrester report “US Online Holiday Retail Forecast, 2009,” released Monday.

I do all of my shopping on-line. It’s easy, convenient and avoids all the hassles of shopping in person.

18 users responded in " Web to Drive Holiday Retail Sales "

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# 1 Mac Guy said, on November 2nd, 2009 at 11:20 am

And this is why I bought Amazon stock last year… At $37.70/share.

# 2 Zybch said, on November 2nd, 2009 at 11:57 am

I do all non-grocery shopping on-line, and thats only because no on-line grocery service delivers fresh stuff in my area.
More and more people are doing the same, which must be one of the reasons that there are so many empty papered up storefronts in my area. Who wants to pay extra costs on goods to pay the rent on a shop when you can get identical products cheaper on the net?

# 3 Improbus said, on November 2nd, 2009 at 12:05 pm

Good luck trying to raise prices web stores … Google and other price watch web sites are going to keep you honest or put you out of business.

Remember if you want to charge more you need to provide something in return. One of my favorite on line stores, Newegg.com, doesn’t always have the absolute lowest prices but they are in the ball park and their service and shipping are second to none. [this was not a paid endorsement]

# 4 Faxon said, on November 2nd, 2009 at 12:10 pm

And I am sure all of you California victims are sure to pay the “use tax” on your tax returns in lieu of a 9-10% state sales tax, right????
I certainly do.

# 5 McCullough said, on November 2nd, 2009 at 12:52 pm

#2. As long as you don’t bring your online purchase into my shop, and expect the same service I give to those who bought from us…then we are good. But there are some technical items, computers for example, that unless you can do your own repairs….well, you can figure out the rest.

It’s a two-way street people, and let’s face it out of box failures happen.

# 6 Dallas said, on November 2nd, 2009 at 12:55 pm

Only way to shop!

# 7 Personality said, on November 2nd, 2009 at 1:23 pm

What? You mean to tell me that I could go into a store made of bricks or wood and buy things other than food??? What fantasy.

# 8 SparkyOne said, on November 2nd, 2009 at 1:30 pm

Personality,
Not in my town. They have gone out of business.

# 9 The Monster's Lawyer said, on November 2nd, 2009 at 1:31 pm

#5 – Yep, bring that fried hp laptop back to target. They’ll know what to do.

# 10 Zybch said, on November 2nd, 2009 at 2:08 pm

#5 Not a problem. With the abysmal level of post-sale support at most retail stores who have had to ‘let go’ their support staff to remain profitable, its usually quicker and more convenient to handle any warranty/support issues direct with the manufacturer anyway.

# 11 Jim w. said, on November 2nd, 2009 at 3:18 pm

the first of 1001 such stories that will appear this season.

AND ITS NOT EVEN THANKSGIVING!!!!
/cranky old man yelling

# 12 McCullough said, on November 2nd, 2009 at 3:28 pm

#9. Monster- You bring that fried HP, Mac, IBM laptop into me, as an Auth. servicer I will have your motherboard on my desk the next day, and in your computer by the end of it. I am not talking about the big box stores…but real computer shops with techs that can go onsite and help you put your network together, fix software issues, etc. Repair that laser printer, you know…experienced TECHNICIANS. We are still out there, and I get you clowns in my shop all the time. You bought your system online, there’s a problem and since your business or schoolwork depends on it, you need help right here, right now. Oh and the word backup is a term most of you have never heard of…I see it almost every day. I’ll even work on that Gateway, Acer or generic that your brother-in-law cobbled together 5 years ago. But it will cost you $70 / hr. The same rate we charged back in 1985. How many of you can say your rates have been the same for 24 years?

Or, maybe you’re tired of talking to India for crappy support, or shipping your computer off for weeks at a time. If you buy from me, you bring your old system in and all the file transfer and setup is done and you are good to go in a couple hours. See if an online store or big box will do that for you. And the funny thing is, we are no more expensive than the online store. It’s true…but you don’t have to believe me.

I wonder what will happen when we are all gone.

# 13 jescott418 said, on November 2nd, 2009 at 4:02 pm

Online and Walmart I guess that makes next year another year of retail closings. More job loses. Great

# 14 Improbus said, on November 2nd, 2009 at 4:11 pm

Anyone know how much Walmart is going to be paying their “Geek Squad”? I’m just curious … I could use some spare cash. My relatives and friends aren’t the paying kind but I generally get fed.

# 15 Father said, on November 2nd, 2009 at 4:12 pm

Pardon my OT, but if sales are lower this Holiday wrt last year, the markets and government will panic.

My informal study of bar spending (at places where drinks are sold), indicates an increasing slowdown in the “post recovery” bar scene.

# 16 sargasso said, on November 2nd, 2009 at 4:22 pm

I used to buy a lot from Amazon, but lately they refuse to deliver out of the United States. Everything from car air filters, engine oils, blu-ray movies – straight out refusal to deliver to an overseas address.

# 17 Rick Cain said, on November 2nd, 2009 at 8:20 pm

Sorry but I’m not buying a thing this year. We’re having a meal and watching a video, thats the extent of christmas.

# 18 GetSmart said, on November 2nd, 2009 at 10:23 pm

The picture of the shopping cart is what’s selling for Excessmas this year, so we can keep our meager possessions with us as we wait in the soup line.

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