For many it is the draw of both convenience as well as the offers of free shipping which are attracting holiday shoppers. According to recent reports, online shopping sales numbers for the month of November were up over $2 billion from last year. Total sales revenue was a reported $18.7 billion compared to $16.3 billion last year.
While many site the convenience of shopping at home and avoiding the crowds as their reason for doing their holiday shopping online, a recent survey conducted by ComScore showed that nearly 80% consider free shipping as a major factor for buying from a company’s web site. In fact, over one-third of those surveyed indicated that they would not shop online for holiday gifts without the free shipping.
To cash in on the trend, retailers and etailers offered a record number of online deals and sales as part of their Black Friday and Cyber Monday promotions. After record sales in the opening holiday sales weekend, retailers are continuing the deals through December leading up to Christmas.