Shoppers are focusing on quality, not deals, in the final days before Christmas

E-commerce Trends - U.S. consumers have spent $187.3 billion online from Nov. 1 to Dec. 12, marking a 6.1% increase from the same period last year, with total holiday season e-commerce expected to exceed $253 billion, a 5.3% rise [3] - E-commerce sales typically slow sharply from Dec. 16 to Dec. 18, with Christmas Eve being the slowest shopping day of the season, but shopping is expected to pick up again on Dec. 27 [4] Consumer Behavior - Consumers are increasingly prioritizing quality over discounts in the latter half of the holiday season, with a notable rise in searches for premium brands such as Alo Yoga (up 256%) and Quince (up 124%) [6][7] - There is a growing trend towards gifting experiences and subscriptions, which are seen as "deadline-proof gifts," with increased interest in products like Roblox Robux and various streaming service subscriptions [9] Discounts and Promotions - Discounts are available but are lower than during Cyber Week, with toys seeing the largest promotions at 15% off, followed by furniture and televisions at 10% off [10] - Despite lower discounts, toys remain a strong category, with popular items including Mattel's Barbie Dreamhouse and Disney's Stitch toys [11] In-Store Shopping Dynamics - The last Saturday before Christmas, known as "Super Saturday," is expected to see lower volumes this year due to Christmas falling on a Thursday, but high conversion rates are anticipated in the final days before Christmas [13] - Warmer weather conditions are expected to boost store traffic during the holiday shopping season [14] Buy Online, Pick Up In Store (BOPIS) - BOPIS is projected to peak on Dec. 22 and Dec. 23, with 32% to 37% of e-commerce orders utilizing this service, a significant increase from typical usage [15] - Retailers like Kohl's and Bath and Body Works report that a substantial percentage of customers picking up online orders also make additional purchases in-store [16] - Target has noted that order pickup saves the retailer 90% compared to traditional delivery methods, with three-quarters of its digital orders being picked up from stores [17]