Perhaps in the hope of avoiding the holiday rush, more consumers are getting their shopping done sooner than they have in past years. This has resulted in many retailers starting their promotions and discounts early to accommodate the customers who want to buy their gifts and be done for the season.

Internet Retailer writes that according to a recently released study by the National Retail Federation (NRF), the average American shopper has already bought 56.5 percent of their holiday items. At the same time last year, that figure stood at 46.5 percent. While consumers have benefitted from earlier shopping days and hours, retailers are still hoping to draw in the crowds for the remainder of the season by offering special promotions and deals, the source states.

"There's no question that holiday shoppers wanted to make the most out of retailers' promotions as early as they could, but, as personal schedules get even busier these days, we know there are plenty of people who haven't even made a dent in their list yet," said NRF CEO and president Matthew Shay. "As two of the most important weeks of the holiday season, retailers will do their best to pull in those final dollars with unique offerings and creative promotions."

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Tuesday, December 18th, 2012 at 3:56 am .