2013 Holiday Season 1 - 3DCart

12013 Holiday Season GuideIntroductionSome say Christmas ‘tis the season to be jolly. We at 3dcart say Christmas ‘tis the season to make money.According to a study conducted by comScore Inc., U.S. consumers spent $42.28 billion online in November and December of2012. This staggering figure represents an annual growth rate of 13.7%, and all signs point to even bigger numbers in 2013.If you’re a 3dcart store owner looking to maximize your profit margins this winter, you’ve come to the right place. The followingguide will not only teach you the value of learned preparation, it will also show you how to create -- and execute -- anecommerce game plan focused on getting your online store ready for the 2013 holiday season.Cyber MondayCyber Monday is kind of like Super Bowl Sunday for ecommerce merchants. It’s the big day, the one we’ve all been waiting for. It’stime to step up, take center stage and hope your preparations have readied you for the craziness that’s about to ensue.For those who may not be aware, Cyber Monday (the Monday immediately following the Thanksgiving holiday) is widely known asthe busiest online shopping day of the year, and your ecommerce website needs to be primed to handle a massive spike in traffic,order processing and customer service requests.According to an article published by Adobe, “total sales reached $1.98 billion on Cyber Monday, a 17% increase from 2011.” But whileCyber Monday spending continues to increase, research suggests shoppers are growing smarter -- and more selective -- by seekingout and taking advantage of special offers and promotions like free shipping.As e-store owners, Cyber Monday is what it’s all about. Take time to research and prepare an effective marketing strategy tailored tomaximize Cyber Monday sales.Important Dates to RememberNovember 29, Black Friday (U.S.) - Black Friday is consideredthe busiest shopping day of the year for retail stores in theUnited States. Online shopping is also growing more and morepopular on Black Friday, with e-sales topping the $1.1 billionmark in 2012.December 2, Cyber Monday - Cyber Monday is widely known asthe busiest online shopping day of the year, and ecommercemerchants need to be ready for the big day (see above).December 17, Free Shipping Day – With only eight days to gountil Christmas, many online retailers offer free shipping on allorders made on December 17th in an effort to promotelast-minute holiday sales.December 21, the last Saturday before Christmas – This is oneof the busiest online shopping days of the year asprocrastinators rush to their keyboards and/or mobile devices tofinish holiday shopping.December 24, Christmas Eve – Online sales figures forChristmas Eve continue to increase at a rate of 12% annually.December 25, Christmas Day – While not an incredibly busyday for online shopping, e-store owners should offer specialpromotions and discounts in an effort to move remainingholiday inventory.December 26, Boxing Day (Canada, U.K.) – For ecommercemerchants in Canada and the U.K., Boxing Day is similar toCyber Monday. December 26th is also a big day for onlineretailers in the U.S. as they can expect more customer servicerequests on this day than any other throughout the year.December 31, New Year’s Eve – Widely recognized as ane-merchants last opportunity to offer special deals andpromotions during the holiday season.2