2021 Holiday Planning

Prepare for a holiday season that will be like no other. Hear from fellow retailers on how they are preparing to navigate shipping and supply chain challenges, as well as labor shortages. Plus, merchants continue to make omnichannel and website performance investments to prepare for the busy peak season. Also inside, tips on strategies retailers can implement this Q4 and insights into what online shoppers say they want from merchants during the holidays, such as updates to return policies.

BUCKLE UP FOR A HOLIDAY SEASON LIKE NO OTHER

2020’s peak holiday season was a peak on top of a peak: ecommerce sales surged even more after a year of growing at unprecedented levels.

U.S. shoppers spent $201.32 billion online during the season, up 45.2% from $138.65 billion in 2019, Digital Commerce 360 estimates. More than $1 in $4 spent on retail purchases for the period came from online orders—a sizeable jump in digital penetration.

2020 was a stellar online holiday shopping season. But 2021 is a new year with its own set of challenges. A more open U.S. economy and vaccinated consumers armed with stimulus checks continue to fuel retail sales. But the world continues to grapple with the pandemic. Periodic manufacturing shutdowns, transportation backlogs and labor shortages have disrupted supply chains for months with no end in sight.