Hardware Retailing The Industry's Source for Insights and Information
On Dec. 11, Planalytics, a global leader in business weather intelligence, hosted the company’s annual Holiday Homestretch webcast. The webcast gave an updated analysis on the holiday shopping season at its midpoint, how weather will play a role in consumer behavior, as well as providing an outlook on consumer spending heading into the end of the shopping period.
Today’s consumers are more informed than ever before and remain focused on value and buying at need, according to Kathleen Bachmann, manager of client services for Planalytics.
During webcast, Bachmann discusses how the weather will play a role in consumer behavior, along with expected trends for the second half of the shopping season and what to expect during the post-holiday shopping season.
“The weather during the holiday season might not influence if you make a purchase, but it influences what is being purchased,” Bachmann says. “The economic impact that weather can have on seasonal categories, as well as overall transactions, is greatest during the holidays for most businesses.”
Evan Gold, senior vice president of client services for Planalytics, discusses trends in the weather this season, comparing the differences in weather to the previous year and updating the current weather outlook for the continuation of the holiday shopping season.
Gold covered all areas of the country and Canada, looking at regional projections and how they impact consumers and purchases being made. He notes the southeast region will be colder than average, increasing consumer purchases of firewood and room heaters. Out west, Gold says retailers will see an increase in selling wiper blades and wiper fluid will due to excessive precipitation.
The entire webcast is available online and offers a detailed look at how weather impacts day-to-day business.
To view the recorded webcast, click here.
