Welcome to 2012! But First, Some 2011 Holiday Shopping Results

Happy 2012! We hope you had a wonderful holiday season.

And now, for the important stuff. Drum roll, please…

The results from the 2011 Christmas holiday season are in (thank you ShopperTrak – who had the data out before any of us were even back to work!), and they are spectacular. In all ways, the 2011 holiday season rocked. Let’s review:

• Roughly $44 billion was spent the week ending Dec. 24, a 37.8 percent increase over the week prior and a 14.8 percent increase over the same time period in 2010.

• Month-to-date sales for December 2011 were 4.7 percent higher than December 2010.

• We’re still procrastinators – 32.4 percent more of us were out shopping the week ending Dec. 24 than the week prior. And yes, that was me on Dec. 24 hitting a few stores for local wine and cheeses (it’s amazing who you forget to put on your list in all of the holiday shopping hub-bub!).

• The day after Christmas was also a booming shopping day; it was fourth in foot-traffic and sales for the entire holiday season, with foot traffic increasing 25.9 percent from the same day last year. Consumers spent approximately $7.1 billion, a 25.5 percent increase from the same time period in 2010.

Whew! So we shopped until we dropped, or until the ball dropped on Jan. 1, 2012 that is. 

I know I was guilty of last-minute Christmas shopping, were you? If you’re a retailer did you experience the same stellar results that ShopperTrak discovered? Leave your comments here.

-Heather Strang

P.S. And here’s to an even more outstanding year in 2012 for everyone!

Image credit: © Nevit Dilmen found at Wikimedia commons

Comments

[Heather Strang]

Becky,

I am with you - I know 2012 is going to be one of our best year's yet. Look forward to sharing some of the celebration and success with you!

Will you be at GlobalShop this year? I'll be there and look forward to seeing you!

-Heather

[Becky Tyre, Retail Details blog]

Happy New Year Heather. My retail friends and clients are also reporting great numbers for the 2011 holiday season. So far, the winter gift market attendance and early wholesale sales reports are looking good, too. Cheers to a great 2012 for the retail industry!