Christmas In July? For Some It Truly Was!
Survey Reveals the Holiday Shopping Season has begun

Retailers, despite second-quarter disappointments, can look forward to brighter days ahead, according to a recent survey by ShopLocal.com. The comparison shopping Web site’s poll of more than 2000 U.S. adults revealed that many consumers have already started shopping for their holiday gifts.

According to the results of the July 2007 ShopLocal.com online poll, exactly one-third (33 percent) of respondents have already crossed items off their holiday shopping lists, having purchased gifts more than six months before the first eggnog is poured. (And, hats off to the ambitious one-tenth of a percent who reported having their holiday shopping completely finished). Many of those surveyed (18 percent) reported getting a jump on their holiday gift giving by using the Internet to research information on big-ticket holiday gift items like the iPhone, laptop computers, jewelry, flat-screen televisions, digital picture frames, and gaming systems Nintendo Wii, XBOX 360, and Playstation 3. As for those consumers polled that have already made purchases, the survey shows they are buying both online (13 percent) and at “brick and mortar” retailers (49 percent). Some consumers (38 percent) used both channels to purchase items on their holiday list.