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Holiday shoppers adopt tech-driven buying habits

Holiday shoppers take to the mouse and small screen

The survey of 1,000 US adults found that, in addition to the usual rush to the shopping mall, consumers are increasingly powering up their computers and mobile devices or simply interacting with their virtual assistants. While nearly three-fourths (73%) still plan on visiting a brick-and-mortar store to purchase holiday gifts, a sizeable 57% additionally plan on turning to their computer to shop, 42% to their mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet, and 13% to their virtual assistant, such as Alexa or Siri, to facilitate their holiday shopping needs.

And, while millennials are at the forefront of this shift in the holiday path to purchase, Gen X is right there with them. Sixty percent of millennials and 53% of Gen Xers plan on using their laptops or computer for their holiday shopping this year, 55% of millennials plan on using a mobile device, followed by 48% of Gen Xers and when it comes to voice assistants, Gen Xers take the lead with 22% employing voice commands, surpassing millennials at 17%.

"What we're seeing is that technology is altogether reshaping the holiday shopping season," said Leslie McNamara, Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Workforce Development, Citi Retail Services. "Consumers are turning to connected devices to purchase gifts in droves and for retailers, this means rethinking their marketing strategy to encompass a robust strategy - including voice technology - to reach consumers in their evolving channel of choice and ensure a seamless shopping experience."

And with smart speaker ownership poised to continue to increase dramatically (Adobe predicts that smart speaker ownership will rise to 48% of US consumers after the 2018 holiday season, up from 32% in August, voice-driven shopping behavior is likely to rise right along with it, providing retailers with a year-round opportunity to seamlessly connect with consumers and drive brand loyalty.

Also, as consumers adopt new means to shop for the holidays, they continue to leverage innovative ways to extend their purchasing power. Eighty-four percent of consumers are planning to shop at a store where they are a rewards member, specifically so that they can accumulate discounts and/or rewards points, and 60% of rewards members have opted not to use their rewards on purchases throughout the year so they can allocate them toward a holiday gift.

Further, more than one-quarter of shoppers (26%) anticipate they will save an impressive $200 or more this holiday season, thanks to their rewards programs. And, again, millennials and Gen Xers lead the way with 33% and 28%, respectively, expecting to save $200 or more by leveraging rewards.

And with retailers continuing to see strong enrollment in rewards programs (Eight out of ten (83%) consumers are currently enrolled in at least one rewards program, with one in four (26%) belonging to five or more), there's an immense opportunity to engage consumers in these crucial moments. In addition, the CRS research showed that consumers are keenly aware of which rewards programs they are enrolled in, with nearly nine out of ten (88%) - and 95% of millennials - confirming they are more loyal to stores where they are a rewards member.

Other key findings from the study included:

• Amongst those who will buy gifts this holiday season, over a third (37%) plan on spending more than they did last year, and 69% plan to kick off their holiday shopping before, or on, Black Friday. And while millennials and Gen Xers are getting a head start on their shopping (74% of millennials and 77% of Gen Xers are starting to shop before, or on, Black Friday), Boomers are largely doing the opposite with 40% waiting to start their shopping after Black Friday.
• Given the volume of gifts both received and given during the holiday season, returns are inevitable. Almost half (48%) of consumers admit to exchanging a gift and purchasing another item, either for themselves or for someone else. But again, when it comes to returning holiday gifts, behavior is generational and therefore, evolving over time. While 74% and 76% of millennials and Gen Xers admitted to returning a holiday gift, only 59% of Boomers have done the same.

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