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Rising fuel prices may be pushing more consumers to buy online. In fact, according to e-mail marketing company, Constant Contact’s 3rd Annual Small Business Mother's Day Outlook survey 63% of the over one thousand small firms surveyed expects an increase in online purchases this year. E-mail may play a key role in Mother's Day marketing this year, as 88% of small business owners that plan to market for the holiday plan to use e-mail to do so, according to Constant Contact. Gail Goodman, CEO of Constant Contact is not surprised so many entrepreneurs are reaching out to shoppers; “Small businesses' best opportunity to drive new business is actually to stay in touch with their very best audience, their current customers using tools like emailing marketing. What we see small businesses doing is sending out reminders, gift suggestions, promotional offers.” Mother’s Day shoppers have small business owners cautiously optimistic despite the current economic climate. Fifty-five percent of the business owners surveyed are looking for a strong Mother’s Day and 44% expect their sales to be higher this year than in the previous year. Among other respondents, 34% anticipate sales to remain the same as last year and 22% expect sales to be lower.
Typical gifts will dominate for Mom this year according to the Constant Contact research, as flowers lead as the most anticipated gift to be sold. Thirty-seven percent of retailers expect flowers to be the most popular gift, followed by a meal at a restaurant, which 25% of retailers expect. A salon/spa appointment, jewelry and clothing are also popular gifts. Most consumers spend $25-$75 on a gift, according to the Constant Contact survey.
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