2014 Online Shopping Season

This holiday shopping season will be our most connected ever, with devices at our finger tips helping us hunt for deals in stolen moments—whether on a laptop at work or on a smartphone right before bed.  In fact, one third of all shopping searches on Google happen between 10:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m.  That's because shopping doesn't stop once the mall closes.  Today we’re researching purchases online at all hours of the day.  

People are starting their research early, and retailers are stretching Black Friday promotions across November, changing the focus from just one day to a month-long event. More than half of consumers surveyed said they'll start their research before Thanksgiving, with 26% of shoppers starting before Halloween.

 Shoppers are also spending more time consulting more sources before making a decision.  In 2010, shoppers used an average of five sources of information before purchasing, but that has more than doubled, with shoppers consulting 10 or more sources.  This means that October through November has become a crucial period for retailers to reach shoppers online, being present with offers, information, how-tos and content. 

Shoppers are going online for inspiration at all points of their day—not just to research specific products but to see what their friends and favorite celebrities are wearing. Sites such as YouTube and Pinterest have become the new window shopping displays, and new generations of fashion influencers are influencing shopping decisions. 

Shopping-related content on YouTube, from unboxing videos to product reviews, is becoming an important part of the holiday research process and is trending up year after year. Haul videos—or the YouTube equivalent of telling your best friend about your latest shopping purchases, spiked during key shopping events and hit their peak during Black Friday weekend. Videos with "haul" in the title have been watched more than 1.1B times on YouTube, and views are up 1.7x this year compared to last year.

Medical Gear For Life is offering a special promotion during black Friday and Cyber Monday.  15% off all purchases and free shipping on orders over $95.00