Is your card in the holiday shopping race or is it a late starter?

Over 13M Americans (5.35%) have finished holiday shopping! Now for the good news – the other 95% of shoppers still have not completed!  However, another 18% anticipated being finished by November 1st.  Black Friday is no longer the perceived start to holiday shopping. If issuers are waiting until closer to Black Friday to begin promotions to entice cardholders to use their card products, they will be getting out of the gate late.  A full three weeks late.

Additionally, the National Retail Federation predicts November and December holiday shopping will rise by 4.3% – 4.8% – slightly lower than last year’s 5% growth.  Only 20.73% of shoppers plan to spend more.  What’s your credit union’s plan to capture the additional spend so your team can achieve your year-end growth goals?

Holiday decorations are up at your local mall.  Amazon.com purchases are being delivered with holiday packing tape.  What holiday usage message is your credit union communicating to your members? Holiday sales total $687.9B in 2017, and this year consumers say they will spend $1,007 on average this season on decorations, candy, and gifts for themselves and family members.

 

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