Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Holiday Shopping Trends

             Parking lots are full, merchandise is scattered and money is being spent. Yep! It’s definitely the holiday season. The Fayette Mall is decorated with various Christmas trees, ornaments, lights and garland all through out the building. The stores have created their own holiday window displays that feature their new winter clothes, or holiday sales that are occurring inside. Stores are competing for attention this year because the newest holiday tradition is to shop online. Why bother driving to the store, finding a parking spot, bearing the cold and then stressing about what presents you need to get for whom when you can shop from the comfort of your own home? An important attention grabber that retailers are using today are their window displays. The display give them an opportunity to showcase what the store has available for sale; what sales might be happening and use their creativity to lure people in (and in this case, the bigger the better). The window displays vary from small ornaments hanging in the window to extravagant displays filled with fake snow and snowflakes hanging from the ceiling. Going to the mall during the holiday season always helps to get in the holiday spirit! 

            The phrase “slow as Christmas” is constantly thrown around but there is nothing slow about this Christmas! It is right around the corner and coming faster than ever, but sacrificing no spirit whatsoever. Buying gifts for family and friends, checking out the best decorated houses, and making a trip to Fayette Mall around this time of the year is nothing short of enjoyable. Stores throughout the mall are spreading their holiday cheer by showcasing the biggest and best decorations and displays. Macy’s is done up from corner to corner, which is expected. They are showing off their hottest seasonal merchandise with the greatest deals hoping to attract the maximum of customers, which it seems they have no problem accomplishing. Sephora is another store with a fabulous, eye-catching window display. They do a great job of drawing people inside simply by creating and image on the outside that is impossible to go unnoticed. Holiday trends are changing every year but one thing that will forever remain is the spirit Christmas brings out in everyone!
 

39 comments:

Mahaleigh Wheatley said...

Personally my favorite thing about the holidays is how festive everyone is. I love that stores really go out of their way to decorate and make sure they look amazing for the holiday season. Shopping on line to me is boring and defeats the purpose of holiday gift shopping. For me it's more about the experience of buying the perfect gift in the Christmas atmosphere. I think people get lazy by shopping online, I think online shopping is more of a convenience for those who are not physically able to get out, not for those who can but wont.

Anonymous said...

I love Christmas decorations everywhere! That was one of my favorite things when I worked at the mall was all the decor, music and festivities. I have definitely done my share of online shopping this Christmas, but a lot has been done at the mall and different shops as well!
-Bethany Davis

Maggie Camp said...

I personally LOVE the mall during christmas time! some people hate it because of all of the craziness but it just puts me in the christmas cheer even more! I would love to make window displays for stores some day so i really like looking at them! I think it is definitely a way to draw customers in if done correctly!

Unknown said...

With finals week approaching and Christmas soon following I will surely be one of the many people who are out at the crowded malls searching for last minute gifts. Internet shopping is a good way to combat crowded shopping centers. It also allows customers to compare similar items before the purchase.

--Kasey Paterson

kate gaston said...

When I went home over Thanksgiving break I was so excited to see all the Christmas decorations in my malls at home. And coming back to school, I saw all the decorations at Fayette Mall too. Fayette is all spirited and ready for the season. My friends and I went there last week, and they were so busy, that the buses even stopped making trips to the mall because there was too much traffic!

Emily Stemkowski said...

I work in retail, and you would think that i would be in the holiday spirt, but im not at all. Maybe its finals but not even all the gorgeous displays are able to get me in the mood. I havnt even started christmas shopping yet, let alone had time to go shopping. And shopping online has become one of my new favorite pass times. When my mom says that she wants something for christmas, i just go online, pick out what i want, and have it shipped straight to my house, quickly and easily.

emily mahonski said...

While I love shopping in stores, I always shop online. Its so much easier and quicker. And a lot of times, they offer discounts and free shipping on items and it saves me a lot of trouble trying to find a parking place!!

Emily McDaniel said...

I love the pictures that accompany this blog. Visual displays are very important, they're what may or may not draw a potential customer in. During the holidays I think that retailers really have taken advantage of using their visual advertising skills and enticing us to shop. Even though the parking is horrible, the mall is still a great, fun place to go shop for a day during the holidays.

Rohan Johnson said...

The Malls are some of the first places that start to encourage the Holiday Spirit. I personally like seeing all the decorations and displays for the Christmas season. I have to say that during Christmas I'm more encouraged to shop in a store when there window displays of there items are appealing.

Anonymous said...

Meredith Gross

I love the holiday season and I would definitely agree the stores are having to compete with online sites, because people are now shopping more from the comfort of their homes. I know that I will do both, go to stores and shop online. Personally, I still enjoy going to the mall to gift shop, because sometimes I don't know what I'm going to get someone and then I will see something by just walking around. But, I will also be online shopping for items I know I want for sure and from retailers that are strictly online and do not have a store location.

pk said...

The holiday shopping season is the best. I agree that shopping online is much easier and faster to get your shopping done, but you don't see all of the pretty decorations throughout the mall. I personally do most of my shopping online, but maybe when I go home this year for christmas I'll go to the mall with the family!
paige krall

Marissa Payne said...

Just by looking at the windows displays at Sephora makes me wanna go into the store and get merchandise. By looking at photographers of models and their beautiful makeup. Makes me want to purchase these items and try to do my make up similar to the models.

Jordan Jenkins said...

I love shopping during the holidays. I agree that it is easier to shop online, but I personally never opt to do so. I like the experience of going out and finding the items. I love going to the mall during Christmas time! The decorations automatically put you in the holiday spirit!
--Jordan Jenkins

Anonymous said...

I love going to mall during the holidays. The pretty and creative decorations and displays always put me in the mood to shop. Macy's always has the best displays and holiday decor; it's always classic and tastefully done. Great pictures!

Lauren Brickey

Melissa Thompson said...

I absolutely LOVE the christmas decorations in the display windows! My favorite place to go in the mall was Nordstrom at my house. They had a dj in their store playing christmas music and the christmas decorations were so pretty! It really put you in the mood!

Anonymous said...

I LOVE Christmas time! Seeing all the decorations throughout malls definitely puts me in the Christmas spirit. I like how they talked about online shopping. My favorite store is Forever 21, so I very rarely go to the Fayette Mall I usually just shop online. It saves me gas and time, plus this weather is unbearable. I can just cozy up on my couch and shop away!
-Paige Hofmann

Erin McGee said...

One of my absolute favorite things about the holidays is all of the festive decorations! Not only is it fun to decorate, it's just as much fun to see everyone else's decorations. At Christmas time, stores are always decorating, making their stores look fabulous and appropriate for the holiday season. Displays are always eye-catching. Sephora is one of my favorite stores and I just love their display decorations this year!

Erin McGee

Unknown said...

I think physically going out and christmas shopping does get you in the holiday spirt. The whole atmosphere is just so warming and jolly. I avoid shopping online as much as I can, it just isn't as personal as going out on the hunt for the perfect gift.
-Jillian Dunaway

Levy Bui said...

As much as I hate driving to the mall and finding a parking spot, I have to admit that I do love going out to Fayette Mall around the holiday seasons. Not only are there a lot of people, but seeing them and the decorations of the store really puts me in the holiday spirit. This year, so many stores are outdoing their window display. It is a great way to attract customers into the store.

Anonymous said...

I love the mall around Christmas time, it really gets me in the spirit of the holiday season seeing all the decorations and the Christmas music playing. I worked at the mall last year during Christmas time and parking was definitely a hassle; one day I had to drive around the parking lot for almost 30 minutes, it was horrible.
-Cortney Hockenbury

Anonymous said...

The one thing that really gets me into the holiday spirit are window displays. I love the pretty lights and decorated trees!!!! Which reminds me I need to get on my christmas shopping.

-Rebecca Ramos

Anonymous said...

The mall during the Christmas season is very hectic! I sometimes stay away from the mall when doing my Christmas shopping because I do not like dealing with the crowds and finding a place to park. One of the best parts about walking through the mall is all of the decorations and the music playing in every store. Some of the stores are very creative when it comes to displays.

-Elena Jones

Mallory Patrash said...

I have to agree, stores that use festive and fun displays around holiday time definitely attract more customers. Even restaurants are putting up fun christmas decorations to really get everyone in the spirit!

Anonymous said...

window displays are the most intersting things stores have to offer for the holidays.they can make or break the interest of a customer. but somepeople like shopping online, but the only thing i dont like about that is you cant really see ur product hands on.
-jannifer buchanan

Morgan_Clark said...

I love going to the mall and seeing all the different stores and what kind of holiday spirit they have with their displays. These definatly attract the eyes of customers and draw them in to see what is on display and this is a good way to sell merchandise. Since the stores are so crowded, many people just go to the store they need and don't bother with anything eles but a good display might draw those customers into the store.

Alyssa Allen said...

I love when the mall starts playing Christmas music and all of the stores start setting up their Christmas displays. However, I don't enjoy fighting the crowds during this time of the year. If there is an item that I want and I can get it online I would much rather do that.

Margo Cain said...

I may do a lot of my shopping online but I always make a trip to the mall every Christmas season simply to see the decorations and displays. I love to see what ideas stores use each year, what sales they have going on (if they're different from those online), and of course I love to see what Santa's workshop/Northpole look like. I love the creativity stores use, the more creative, whimsical, and magical they are, the more likely I'll go inside. After all isn't the magic and whimsy a part of what makes Christmas so special :)

Great last blog guys !!
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to everyone :)

Anonymous said...

I love going to the mall during Christmas time. The elaborate decorations and store displays definitely put you in the holiday spirit. A creative display has the power to lure customers into the store. The mall in my hometown has decorations even outside of the mall which can attract customers from the street!

-Olivia Rink

Raegan Kuchar said...

I cannot believe how fast Christmas cam this year, it feels like time is just flying by! Traffic and parking is insane, especially in Lexington around Christmas time. No matter where I am shopping and how much traffic or ow many people are around, it is definitely putting me in the Christmas spirit!!

--Raegan Kuchar

Anonymous said...

Christmas is my absolute favorite holiday! I love looking at all the stores windows throughout the mall! The more going on the better i say! I can not wait to go home for Christmas and to give all my family their gifts! I love shopping for people and giving to everyone!

Elizabeth Griffith

Morgan Spencer said...

I absolutely love christmas decorations. There is nothing better then going shopping and seeing all of the store christmas decorations to put you in the holiday spirit. My favorite store decorations has to be Macy's windows in New York City. They always have such elaborate holiday decorations. I believe last year they had fairy tale stories in the windows.

Julie Wallingford said...

It just hit me yesterday that Christmas is coming up, so I finally started shopping for it. I usually do my gifting pretty close to Christmas because I can find the best deals then. It's always so sad when you have take down all of the decor and wait another long, 365 days.

Lucy Klausing said...

I love how the mall looks during Christmas time. I would rather shop at the mall than online. If they don't have something in the store, then that's when I go online. Not shopping in the mall during Christmas is a downer!

Danielle Haddad said...

I love looking at window and other visual displays around Christmas! The shiny fixtures and bright lights just make you want to get in the Christmas spirit. While online shopping may be convenient, there is nothing like shopping in a mall for presents!

Cara Richardson said...

I enjoy going to the mall or a store rather that online for not only the experience, but also for being able to try on things and see for myself in person. I love the Christmas season! All the stores decorations are beautiful!

Anonymous said...

Christmas time is my favorite time of the year!!! I love shopping and buying gifts for loved ones and friends. The mall looks so pretty too. Their decorations look very nice and I believe helps people get in the holiday spirit. With finals now and not very much spare time, I'll be one of the last minute shoppers this season.

Jessica Stockdale

Anonymous said...

I'm most certainly going to be a last minute shopper. I intend on making it easy for myself, getting mostly gift cards. I do however like waiting a few days after christmas cause that's when everything goes on sale.
-Amber Olinger

Anonymous said...

i love the holiday season! its my fav time of the year. it is so much fun going into stores and seeing all of the lights and decorations. i am always the one at the store the night before christmas still buying gifts.
-Amanda Birch

Anonymous said...

I love going into the mall and seeing all the little kids in line to tell Santa what they want for christmas. It is definitely my favorite holiday and season of the year. All the lights and decorations for this holiday are so pretty.

-Kayla Sienkowski