Make Your Shopping Lists: Black Friday 2012

Ever wonder when the best days to go holiday shopping are? What about what retail categories are going to do well this year? All this and more in our conversations with SBC’s retail experts. Check back often for more.

Matt Wilson, General Manager and Partner

What are your expectations for online sales?

Internet holiday sales will push close to $40 billion for November 1 to December 26 from the similar period take of $35 billion in 2011 - I $5 billion increase or around 14 percent. FedEx and UPS, the key logistics providers for holiday sales, have reported that they predict holiday shipments will increase 13 percent and 10 percent respectively.

Becky Zeigler, VP, Account Director

What are your expectations for holiday sales?

Consumer confidence is wavering at best. The current divisive political climate has caused consumers to increase savings and spend cautiously. From the numbers I've seen, we can probably expect a flat to three percent growth for the retail holiday season this year.

Scott Mylin, Creative Director

What do you think of the Holiday Creep?

"Man, I really wish they'd start marketing Christmas before Halloween," said nobody ever.

And yet, here we are.

There will always be big, obnoxious, blunt-force advertising, I suppose, but the powerful arsenal of integrated digital and social channels allows retailers to personally connect with their customers in ways that the customer can control.

Because the thing is, people already really want to buy stuff. Screaming at them generally doesn't do much to move the needle.

But talking with them? Presenting customers with the ideas, options and, yes, deals, that they want, on their terms?

Seems like a no-brainer.