From The Conversation · James Malm · · 1m 10s
Holiday shopping early helps retailers and shoppers
Early holiday shopping boosts retailers' sales and shoppers' budgets.
In brief
Early holiday shopping boosts retailers' sales and shoppers' budgets. Early holiday shopping helps retailers attract customers and allows cash-strapped shoppers to spread gift costs across paychecks. Originally reported by The Conversation.
Why retailers start early
Retailers begin holiday sales as early as October to attract more customers and secure sales that would otherwise go to competitors.
Early shopping benefits
Early shoppers can manage budgets gradually and avoid last-minute stress while stretching purchases across multiple paychecks.
Spending estimates
U.S. holiday gift spending between late 2026 and January 2027 ranges from $1 trillion to $1.7 trillion.
Consumer preferences
29% of Americans plan to spend early, while 17% shop on Black Friday, according to Bank of America survey.
Retailer advantages
A longer selling season eases supply chain pressure and lowers warehouse costs for retailers.
Early shopping pitfalls
Early shoppers should check return policies as deadlines may fall before holidays, like Best Buy's policy effective in 2026.
When early shopping makes sense
Buying items early avoids higher prices and shipping costs if they become unavailable later.
The key point
Early holiday shopping helps retailers attract customers and allows cash-strapped shoppers to spread gift costs across paychecks.
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