![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.navitor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Copy-of-HolidayInterior_Store_Recovery_MockUp.png\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
It\u2019s snow joke – we are in for a holiday season unlike any other we\u2019ve been through. The traditional merriment we look forward to each year involves eating, drinking, and singing together in a cozy room \u2026 all among the highest risk scenarios for transmitting viruses. It\u2019s pretty unlikely we\u2019ll see shoppers lined up before sunrise for Black Friday deals, or rushing to crowded stores for last-minute gift buying. No matter the circumstances, this is the time of year when retailers and other businesses start to mull over their holiday plans and prepare for what promises to be an unprecedented holiday season. How will the pandemic affect what has traditionally been retailers\u2019 busiest time of year? Rest assured, we have some ideas around what can be expected. If unprepared, yule be sorry \u2026 but by preparing for what\u2019s to come and offering innovative ideas and options, yule be sleighing it.<\/p>\n
Where the holiday dollars will go Shoppers starting early Business gift-giving Retail shopping holiday makeover Stand-out products The takeaway It\u2019s snow joke – we are in for a holiday season unlike any other we\u2019ve been through. The traditional merriment we look forward to each year involves eating, drinking, and singing together in a cozy room \u2026 all among the highest risk scenarios for transmitting viruses. It\u2019s pretty unlikely we\u2019ll see shoppers lined up before […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,18,12,4,6,14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13125","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-graphic-design","category-print-education","category-marketing","category-news","category-print-products","category-resources","entry"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.navitor.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13125","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.navitor.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.navitor.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.navitor.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/27"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.navitor.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13125"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.navitor.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13125\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13131,"href":"https:\/\/www.navitor.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13125\/revisions\/13131"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.navitor.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13125"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.navitor.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13125"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.navitor.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13125"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n<\/strong>Money typically spent on heavily attended parties and festive gatherings, travel, and enormous grocery bills for huge dinners instead will go toward gift-giving, albeit with some differences. Experiential gifts like concert and event tickets, restaurant gift cards, and massage certificates are out, while popular merchandise categories \u2013 things you can hold in your hands (after sanitizing, of course) \u2013 are in.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Gift-givers will be coming out of quarantine as holiday shopping season starts earlier than normal. Opting to shop during less volume-heavy times, consumers are likely to buy sooner rather than later in order to avoid crowds and to make sure the items on their lists are even available. From a shopper\u2019s standpoint, one of the biggest challenges during the pandemic has been product availability. Supply chains are compromised and inventory is low. Making matters worse, deliveries take longer than normal because as the volume increases, shipping delays only get worse. To avoid out-of-stocks and account for anticipated shipping delays, shoppers will be starting early.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.navitor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Copy-of-HolidayInterior_Office_Recovery_MockUp-300x200.png\")
\n<\/strong>Businesses reaching out to customers and employees at the holidays this year will opt for cards and gifts as alternatives to dinners and parties. In order to show their gratitude and appreciation for the loyalty of their customers and employees over the past year, corporate giving will likely be at an all-time high. Branded promotional products are sure to be in high demand as businesses manage their customer and employee gift-giving from a distance.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Without question, COVID-19 has transformed the retail shopping experience. The holiday shopping season will look quite different this year as retailers find themselves mired in the coronavirus. Here are some of the changes in store for us this year:<\/p>\n\n
\n<\/strong>With all the social and shopping changes brought about by the pandemic, there are still innovative products in high demand. Some of the top holiday options include calendars<\/a>, greeting cards, glitter stock items<\/a>, custom packaging<\/a>, promotional products<\/a>, custom gift wrap, labels<\/a>, face coverings<\/a>, holiday signage, direct mail, and much more. Communication and information exchange are not the only things going contactless this holiday season: Expressing gratitude and thanks will be done through gift-giving and showing appreciation without the typical holiday get-togethers.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>To really make an impact this year, make sure you\u2019re giving your customers the information they need \u2013 and preparing early is critical. Have your stocking stuffed full of ideas your customers will love (from head to mistletoe). Even though most hugs will be saved until next year, we\u2019re still here to help you navigate the 2020 Holiday Season. We\u2019re your go-to resource with ideas and innovative ways to work through the challenges you\u2019re facing and uncover the opportunities this shopping season brings. For some great options, check out our online booklet Reinventing Holiday Traditions in the Next Normal<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"