Dive Brief:
- Nearly 70% of shoppers plan on spending less on gifts this year, according to Perfect Corp.’s holiday shopping trend report. The survey found that this season, customers adopted more mindful spending habits and are incorporating tech while they shop to avoid overspending.
- Shoppers want personalized experiences, according to Perfect Corp. AI-driven experiences like virtual assistants (26%), virtual try-on tech (23%) and personalized product search options (23%) are all valued by survey respondents. However, shopping with AI was still split among consumers, with 48% saying they don’t use the tech and 52% reporting they do or plan to in the future.
- Even as tech gains momentum, holiday shoppers want flexibility, the report said. Sixty percent of consumers this year said they want both in-store and online purchase options.
Dive Insight:
Shoppers are more budget-conscious this year with a tight focus on value, according to the Perfect Corp. trend report. To adapt, Perfect Corp. suggests retailers lean on discounts, combining physical and digital retail and leveraging their tech options to help shopping go smoothly.
“Omnichannel strategies allow consumers to research and browse from the comfort of their homes, then receive expert advice or finalize purchases in-store,” the report reads. “This dual approach accommodates varied needs: the convenience of online shopping for time-strapped buyers and the tactile, reassuring experience of in-store visits for those who prefer to see products firsthand. Retailers who successfully blend these channels can create seamless journeys that resonate with customers across touchpoints.”
Still, online shopping comes with pain points for some consumers. The inability to try products on before buying (34%), complicated return processes (22%) and overwhelming product options (15%) were the top e-commerce challenges identified by shoppers.
As a company that offers AI and AR solutions, Perfect Corp. is a consistent proponent of tech applications for the customer experience. In a September survey the company conducted with industry leaders, brands reported a 2.5 times increase in sales after adding virtual try-on capabilities to their business. Across different applications, 38.4% of experts credited virtual fitting rooms and try-ons as the best way to bridge the digital and physical retail gap, according to that report. Interactive displays followed with 30.8% alongside real-time customized shopping also at 30.8%.
