With all of the brick-and-mortar store closures in 2017, it’s no surprise that there’s one online retail giant that’s dominating the holiday season. According to CNBC’s All-America Economic Survey, Amazon is where most people are looking to score their Christmas presents this year.
Not only is the retailer leading the way for purchases this holiday season—they’re doing so by a landslide. According to the survey, 76 percent of Americans say Amazon is where they will be looking to find most of their holiday gifts.
In-store shopping has taken quite a hit this year. The survey revealed that 45 percent of folks say that they’ll do all of their shopping online, which is up by five percentage points compared to last year’s survey results—proving that, yes, e-commerce is king.
“As much choice or selection as the internet provides, it’s just an amazing set of data to see all that concentrated in one online retailer,” Micah Roberts, a partner at research firm Public Opinion Strategies, told CNBC. “It really underscores the dominance in that space.”
What Makes Amazon Better Than All The Rest?
So, what makes Amazon the place to shop online, according to over 75 percent of Americans? It probably has something to do with the tremendous variety and great prices, which make Amazon the ideal site for “one-stop shopping.”
If you recall, back when Amazon began, it focused only on books. But CEO Jeff Bezos wanted the site to be “the everything store,” which it has indeed become.
According to Scott Galloway, professor of Marketing at NYU Stern, Amazon excels at offering these four key things to consumers: value, convenience, selection and speed.
So, Who’s In Second Place?
The retailer that takes second place for the most-shopped online store is Walmart, according to the survey. But, it’s not even a close second. In fact, only 8 percent of Americans say they will do most of their holiday shopping at Walmart.
What Does This Mean For In-Store Shoppers?
If you do happen to prefer the in-store shopping experience during the holidays, then you are in luck. It’s no secret to brick-and-mortar retailers that Amazon is poaching customers left and right, so they’re pulling out all of the stops to try and compete. That means plenty of sales and discounts are waiting for you.
So, if you are going to be making purchases in-person, consider heading to locations such as Target, Bed Bath & Beyond and JCPenney, which are all offering some incredible deals for the holidays.
Augusta Statz holds a B.F.A. in Writing from the Savannah College of Art and Design. She's an avid writer with a genuine sense of curiosity. She feels the best way to absorb the world around you is through fashion, art and food, so that’s what she spends most of her time writing about. More.
