Holiday Season Sales Predictions For 2006

With the modern drop in gas prices, should online retailers expect a cheery holiday sales forecast? according to the National Federation of Retailers (Nrf) one-fifth of all sell sales in the United States occur during the holiday season. With the considerable holiday shopping season upon us, many fellowships are gearing up for a busy and eventful holiday season.

Although they expect holiday sales to be "subdued" this holiday season, the Nrf still expects a gain of 5 percent to 7.4 billion, which is short of last years 6.1 percent increase. But, online holiday sales will continue their fast-paced trend, with sales improbable to reach 27 billion (Forrester Research, Inc.), which would narrate a 23 percent growth over last year.

Kid Barbie Dolls

Another holiday season forecast by eMarketer, predicts that during November and December, online retailers will have sales figures of 24.3 billion; which is a 22.1 percent growth over last year.

However, Jupiter Research, Inc., paints an even rosier sales forecast calling for 2006 online sales to be 32 billion, which would be an growth of 18 percent over last year. Additionally, Jupiter reports a description 114 million users will shop online in 2006.

In an October survey cosponsored by Shop.org, an e-commerce arm of the Nrf, and Shopzilla, which is a comparison-shopping site, it was reported that 72 percent of the online retailers improbable good (15%-plus) year-over-year online sales growth this holiday season. Twenty-one percent of the retailers forecast hyper growth (75%-plus) year-over-year online sales growth.

But with all these facts, figures and forecasts, what will holiday shoppers be seeing for this year? according to Nrf research, gift cards continue to be big sellers and this year many stores are capitalizing on this trend by gift cards geared toward the individual's lifestyle, adding that some cards are even personalized by including photographs or a single theme.

More "hot" gifts included in the Nrf explore included women's clothing, specifically, plaid and hand-knit crocheted looks in women's categories, sweater dresses, short jackets and boots. Additionally, look for diet products, gift certificates to spas or gyms, cell phones and cell phone accessories, ipods, computer gaming products and computer gifts to be very favorite on the wish list for young adults and teens.

Of course, we have all heard of the new Tickle Me Elmo 10th Anniversary Edition dolls that are any child's list from age seven and under. But is the inquire for this toy going to dwindle the contribute down to nothing? Probably. But, Fisher-Price insists there is going to be a steady flow of goods going out to the retailers. Retailers have taken steps to assure they don't run out of a goods by limiting the amount of an private goods that a customer can buy when that goods is in short supply, with the idea being that there should be adequate for everyone. But could Tickle Me Elmo winds up on ebay selling at outrageous prices because of shortages? It already has.

A Trade publication, Toy Wishes, projects the following toys to be among the top sellers this holiday season: Barbie and the 12 Dancing Princesses (Mattel Inc.), Bratz Forever Diamondz (Mga Entertainment), Butterscotch My Furreal Friends Pony (Hasbro Inc.), Digi Makeover (Radica Games Ltd.), Fly Wheels Xpv (Jakks-Pacific Inc.), Kids Tough Digital Camera (Mattel's Fisher-Price), Lego Mindstorms Nxt (Lego Systems Inc.), Magtastik (Hasbro Inc.), Speed Stacks Stackpack (Play Along Toys, a group of Jakks Pacific Inc.), T.M.X. Elmo (Mattel's Fisher-Price), Wii (Nintendo).

Another "must have" gift for the holiday season is Sony's, high-tech video-game console PlayStation 3 that will probably be roughly impossible to get, with just 400,000 units improbable to be shipped at launch. Although Sony does not want consumers to have to resort to paying exorbitant prices to obtain this very sought after product, the reality is that it will probably come down to that in the end for some consumers. It is the law of contribute and demand.

We have reviewed some forecasts and data for the 2006 holiday shopping season. Retailers, whether online or brick-and-mortar, comprehend that the holiday shopping season is a considerable part of their bottom line. It is up to them to contribute the goods and services that their customers are requesting and clamoring for. It is the law of contribute and demand.

Holiday Season Sales Predictions For 2006