We’re now officially in the last quarter of the year, and with Black Friday and the holiday shopping rush, this is often the most crucial season for sales.

Since the inception of the internet, online shopping has only continued to grow in popularity and dollars spent. Perhaps unsurprisingly with the pandemic lockdowns, last year November-December there was a 45% increase in e-commerce sales in the U.S. compared to the same period in 2019. Many experts agree that in spite of economic uncertainty ahead, e-commerce should remain solid for the 2021 holiday season.

Will your business be ready?

Here are 6 trends for the upcoming 2021 holiday sales season that you will want to take advantage of in your e-commerce business:

1. Hybrid Shopping Experiences

Last year when it wasn’t really possible or advisable to go out and spend time browsing in crowded stores, many consumers got used to searching and shopping for gifts online. In-store shopping became, and in many ways still remains, more about quick transactions.

Many customers now have expectations for BOPIS (buy online pickup in store) and curbside pickup options. You want to try to offer the conveniences your customers can find with your competitors.

On the flip side, immersive browsing is now moving online, where customers are encountering digital ways to explore what a brand has to offer. From how-to-videos, unboxing presentations, real-time chat with real and automated sales help, and even AR ways to “try on” something new, customer can skip the lines and teeming crowds while learning more than ever what a brand has to offer.

The future of hybrid shopping brings digital technology to your brick and mortar location while offering online the kinds of fun experiences that are similar to (if not better than) what a customer could get in-person and in-store.

2. Social Media Sales

In 2021, social media is not only critical to build brand awareness and generate new leads, it can also be a site for sales.

Facebook has Marketplace and Shops where you can showcase your products/services and have customers checkout right inside the app. Instagram also has Shops where customers can use Facebook Pay for in-app transactions. Even Snapchat recently launched Brand Profiles in partnership with Shopify for shopping experiences through the platform.

3. Mobile Friendly

Statistics show that almost 40% of online sales during last year’s holiday season came from mobile devices.  So, make sure that all the steps of your customer journey work just as well on a smartphone.

4. Driven By Data

Do you have all the tools and partners you need to collect and analyze data in preparation for this year’s holiday rush? You want to make sure you have your stock in place and available at the right channels to meet your customer needs.

Not only do you want to pay attention to category management and logistics data, you also want data on your advertising and marketing initiatives. Make sure you capitalize on insights from last year’s sales and current market trends to reach your customer and close as many sales as you can.

5. Reducing Friction

With more channels than ever to connect with customers and make sales, you want to be sure to minimize friction with an integrated omnichannel approach.

Recent research shows that brand consistency can increase revenues by 33%. In fact, a tactic as simple as using a signature color can improve your brand recognition by 80%.

6. New Marketplaces

One of the latest trends in e-commerce is the rise of niche marketplaces. While Amazon may be the “everything” store, you might have better success connecting with customers and providing a more customized, specialized experience by leaning into your niche.

For example, Newegg.com is emerging as a tech-focused e-retailer with millions of customers looking for the latest technological gadgets.

Does your e-commerce business need to level up in order to take advantage of the upcoming holiday? To learn how you can capitalize on all these Q4 2021 trends and more, get in touch with our digital marketing experts here at JXT Group! Just call 718-690-730 or fill out our online form.