Retail Technology Insider
  • About
  • Brands
  • CXOs
Subscribe
No Result
View All Result
  • Digital Transformation
  • Customer Experience
  • Cybersecurity
  • Paytech
  • Supply Chain
  • Resources
    • COVID-19
Retail Technology Insider
  • Digital Transformation
  • Customer Experience
  • Cybersecurity
  • Paytech
  • Supply Chain
  • Resources
    • COVID-19
No Result
View All Result
Retail Technology Insider
No Result
View All Result
Home Contributed Articles

Why Engaging, Personalized Experiences are the Perfect Stocking Stuffers

by Paige O'Neill
November 23, 2021
in Contributed Articles
Reading Time: 4 mins read
A A
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Black Friday sales are rolling out as the holiday season draws near, but the dollar signs that once followed are no longer a given. In our survey of 400 US marketers (in consumer brands with 100+ employees), more than two-fifths (41 percent) “strongly agree” that this holiday season will make or break their business. Despite the importance of November-December shopping, only 21 percent of brands say they feel completely prepared for the year’s most significant sales period.

If this makes you think that spending will decline in 2021, think again. According to a report by the National Retail Federation, consumers will spend an average of $997.73 on gifts, holiday items and other non-gift purchases this year – roughly the same as last year. However, while pre-pandemic sales were heavily associated with the Black Friday bonanza, consumers are now more discerning in their purchases. Instead of a weekend of big deals, they want brands to deliver an outstanding experience alongside their products.

The Overall Experience Matters Most

Digitally-native e-commerce brands may have an advantage this year. Our survey shows that more than half of marketers (65 percent) feel that these are the brands that will win the holiday season. But these aren’t the only brands trying to gain a tech-driven edge – almost all (91 percent) say they are likely to enhance their virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence (AI) offerings in 2021. By adopting these and other essential technologies for digital environments, brands are changing how they approach consumers.

In fact, more than half (60 percent) of brands that operate physical stores say they intend to transform them into experiential destinations for the holidays. This is yet another important step in the ongoing evolution of retailers, which is about so much more than each transaction – it is now about the overall experience provided to each customer.

Black Friday is no Longer the Be-All and End-All Sales Event

There was a time when Black Friday was the sales period, but in a world following COVID-19, it’s clear that many marketers are rethinking their strategies. Four-fifths (80%) say that, in addition to becoming outdated, Black Friday is negatively associated with consumer culture. And even more (85 percent) are resetting their old sales practices.

All told, just 60 percent of brands are still planning a Black Friday promotion this year (down 17 percent from 2020), and 78 percent say that Cyber Monday is no longer “a thing” for their business.

With a Great Experience, Brands will be Remembered well into 2022

Instead of big promos tied to single-day or single-weekend shopping, brands would reap greater rewards by deploying a strategy with the shopper experience in mind. While shopping for gifts, consumers will also be looking for brands interested in connecting on a deeper level. Those that do will be remembered well into 2022.

The author, Paige O’Neill, is the Chief Marketing Officer of Sitecore

Tags: Contributed Contentcustomer experienceHoliday ShoppingPersonalized ExperiencesSitecore

RELATED POSTS

Contributed Articles

Branding Lessons from Costco

February 6, 2023
Contributed Articles

Valentine’s Day Is Coming: Are Your Shipping Logistics Up to Par?

February 3, 2023
Contributed Articles

3 Top Retail Predictions for 2023

January 31, 2023
Next Post

No More Cookies: How Will Marketing Survive After Third Party Cookies Disappear?

Automotive Industry

The Automotive Industry is Evolving with Customer Trends in Mind

How 3D Virtual Design is Revolutionizing R&D  in the Fashion Industry


TRENDING NOW

  • Using Relationship Marketing to Solve Holiday Retail Challenges

    562 shares
    Share 225 Tweet 141
  • 3 Top Retail Predictions for 2023

    503 shares
    Share 201 Tweet 126
  • In Times of Uncertainty, Retailers Can’t Afford to Ignore Tech and Data

    539 shares
    Share 216 Tweet 135
  • Unwrapping the Importance of Cloud Security in Retail

    503 shares
    Share 201 Tweet 126
  • Valentine’s Day Is Coming: Are Your Shipping Logistics Up to Par?

    494 shares
    Share 198 Tweet 124

CONNECT WITH US

BECOME AN INSIDER

Get Retail Technology Insider news and updates in your inbox.

Strategic Communications Group is a digital media company that helps business-to-business marketers drive customer demand through content marketing, content syndication, and lead identification.

Related Communities

Financial Technology Today
Future Healthcare Today
Government Technology Insider
Modern Marketing Today
Today’s Modern Educator

Quick Links

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact Us

Become a Sponsor

Retail Technology Insider offers content and advertising sponsorships to leading technology solution and service providers. Interested in becoming a sponsor? Contact us!

© 2023 Strategic Communications Group, Inc.
Privacy Policy      |      Terms of Service

 

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About
  • Brands
  • CXOs
  • Categories
    • Digital Transformation
    • Customer Experience
    • Cybersecurity
    • Paytech
    • Supply Chain
  • Contact Us