Eighth annual holiday shopping survey shows
budgets are flat; consumers focused on responsible retail
TORONTO, Nov. 21, 2019
/CNW/ - Environmentally friendly products will account for
approximately one-third of Canadians' spending this holiday season,
according to findings from the eighth annual Holiday Shopping
Survey from Accenture (NYSE: ACN).
While Canadians expect to spend roughly the same this year as
last year — about $721, on
average, versus $733 last year
— the survey found a growing trend of "responsible retail,"
with shoppers more concerned about the environmental and social
impact of their purchases.
For instance, consumers said they expect to spend, on average,
30% of their holiday shopping budget on gifts that are recyclable,
27% on gifts that are reusable, and 19% on gifts made by "green"
companies. Further, nearly three in five Canadians (58%) said
retailers have a responsibility to address wider social issues, and
more than half (51%) said they'd give more of their business to
retailers they deem responsible this holiday season.
"With increased awareness about the climate crisis, it's no
surprise that responsible retail matters now more than ever,
especially going into the holiday season, where we typically see an
increase in consumption and waste," said Robin Sahota, a managing director at Accenture
who leads its Retail practice in Canada. "Consumers want to fill stockings
based on companies' offerings of both environmentally friendly
products and sustainable business practices."
Fewer consumers plan to shop on Black Friday and Boxing
Day
Approximately four in 10 consumers (41%) said they plan to shop
on Black Friday, and nearly the same number said they plan to shop
on Boxing Day (42%), compared with approximately six in 10 in last
year's survey who said they'd shop on those days. In addition,
one-third (32%) of consumers said they plan to take advantage of
Cyber Monday deals.
Amidst this drop in Black Friday and Boxing Day plans, more than
half (54%) of consumers said they now buy their gifts throughout
the year due to the rise of constant discounts offered by
retailers, including deal websites and promotional sales such as
Amazon Prime Day.
"Retailers have traditionally counted on Black Friday and Boxing
Day to meet their sales targets for the year, but consumers aren't
willing — and don't need — to wait for deals anymore, as holiday
shopping has become a year-long trend," Sahota said.
Green-minded consumers opting for in-store pickup and
packaging-free purchases
With 68% of Canadians planning to do some holiday shopping
online, many will be looking to reduce their carbon footprint.
Almost half (47%) of Canadian consumers — and even more younger
millennials (58%) — who said they were aware of the environmental
impact of faster shipping said they will choose greener options,
such as in-store pickup or ground transportation instead of air. An
additional 23% who said they were unaware of the environmental
impact of faster shipping now plan to opt for greener options this
holiday season.
Despite companies getting more creative with product packaging,
64% of Canadian consumers said they want to see retailers lead the
charge and offer packaging-free products and deliveries. More
than three in five consumers (63%) also said they would use
recycling services offered by a retailer, and half (50%) said they
would trade in or re-sell an item for a discount toward a gift
purchase.
Consumers putting their money where their values are
The survey also revealed that many consumers want to make their
money count this holiday season. About half (51%) of consumers said
they are more likely to shop at retailers that are addressing
social issues through their business practices and working
conditions.
"Consumers certainly prefer to spend their hard-earned money
with retailers that share their values, including not only those
related to sustainability, but also diversity and fair working
conditions," said Kelly Askew, a
managing director in Accenture Strategy. "They recognize that part
of spreading holiday cheer means shopping with purpose and choosing
brands and companies that stand for something good."
This is great news for retailers that are already walking the
talk, especially since many consumers are looking to them for help
making more responsible choices. For instance, more than two-thirds
(70%) of Canadian consumers said they want clear labels on products
made in sustainable ways, and nearly the same number (69%) want to
see the origin of materials and ingredients used to make
products.
Some other key findings from the survey:
- Go-to gifts remain consistent: The top gifts that
shoppers plan to buy are gift cards (cited by 55% of respondents),
followed by clothing and footwear (49%) and toys (34%).
- Free delivery is a big draw: Half (50%) of consumers are
willing to wait longer for their items to be delivered in exchange
for free delivery.
- Mobile shopping on the rise: While more than 40% of
Black Friday and Boxing Day shopping will be done in-store, more
consumers will be shopping on the go. Canadians expect to do 25% of
their Black Friday shopping on phones or tablets (up from 18% last
year) and 33% of their shopping via laptop or desktop (down from
41% last year).
About the Survey
The Accenture Holiday Shopping Survey offers insights into
consumer buying patterns during the holiday time period, providing
an indication of retail performance expectations both in store and
online at a key time for the sector. For this year's study, Coleman
Parkes Research, on behalf of Accenture, surveyed a representative
sample of 1,500 Canadian consumers online, each of whom had
purchased an item for personal use online or in a store within the
previous six months. Respondents were sourced equally from the
Toronto, Montreal and Calgary areas and split evenly between gender
and by age group, with 20% each of Generation Zers (aged 18-20),
younger millennials (aged 21-27), older millennials (28-37),
Generation Xers (38-54), and baby boomers (55 and older). The
survey was conducted in September and October 2019.
About Accenture
Accenture is a leading global professional services company,
providing a broad range of services and solutions in strategy,
consulting, digital, technology and operations. Combining unmatched
experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries
and all business functions — underpinned by the world's largest
delivery network — Accenture works at the intersection of business
and technology to help clients improve their performance and create
sustainable value for their stakeholders. With 492,000 people
serving clients in more than 120 countries, Accenture drives
innovation to improve the way the world works and lives. Visit us
at www.accenture.com.
SOURCE Accenture