Easter may be over, but the holiday revealed important trends about how mobile devices, including smartphones and tablets, are changing the way that consumers shop. A survey published by the National Retail Federation, the world's largest retail trade association, discovered that just over 21 percent of respondents said that they would purchase items online. This figure represented an approximate 2.4 percent jump from 2012.
The group polled by BigInsight, a consumer information website, involved 5,050 individuals. Analysts concluded that at almost 15 percent of participants who own a smartphone said they planned on using it to buy Easter-themed products. Just under 26 percent employed their cell phones to look up items and compare costs and approximately 20 percent used their smartphone to look up store information like addresses and hours.
Equally interesting is the fact that the research concluded that individuals said they weren't going to hold back, especially when it came to spending money on items for the holiday. Businesses also took advantage of consumer's willingness to shell out cash by offering special promotions.
''Though the price of gas is on everyone's mind, Easter is one of the few holidays some consumers are willing to stretch their budgets, especially because many children look forward to treats and new outfits on Easter morning,'' said NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay, according to the official press release. ''Retailers will make sure to offer plenty of promotions on candy, apparel, food and decorations in the coming weeks for eager holiday shoppers.''
Regardless of what industry you are in or what holiday is upcoming, making sure that you capitalize the trends above is a must. To do that, consider working with a local online marketing firm that can help you create an effective advertising campaign, incorporating mobile and video ads and pay-per-click click banners.