Some of the trends Iconoculture's Strategists have identified for Holiday 2008 include:
- Practical Gifting - Practicality will be the leading motivator as consumers begin their holiday shopping. Consumers still plan on buying gifts, but they won't be spending extravagant amounts of money on purchases. Shoppers have had all year to get smart about trading down and saving dollars at the point of sale.
- Christmas, Part II - Thanks to rising airfares, holiday travel could see drastic reductions this year. The silver lining for savvy shoppers is that many who opt to stay home will also realize cost savings by buying gifts for faraway loved ones during the post-Christmas sales
- The Cards That Keep on Giving - Gift cards will continue to be a hot item in holiday stockings, but there will be changes this year. Squeezed budgets will force more shoppers to opt for lower card values, and more gift cards will show up in cool packaging, as more consumers look to balance the simple convenience of gift cards with the restoration of gift-giving excitement.
- One for You, One for Me - Practical gifting is the 2008 holiday shopping motto, but don't expect consumers to deny themselves completely. 2008 has been a rough year, and as it draws to a close, look for those savvy, but weary, shoppers who pinched pennies and hoarded dollars all year to think about a little indulgence. With bountiful sales and discount coupons in tow, smart consumers will use the season to dabble in a bit of personal shopping - and rationalize it as something they've earned.
