It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like ... Christmas?

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE... As we head into September, stores and websites are making the shift to holiday sales – and it started in July! The following stats give us some insight into business holiday marketing. Christmas? ws. JULY 2012 CHRISTMAS IS COMING EARLIER The BIRTH OF THE *9 10 11 12 13 14 FUNNY BUSINESS 15 16 17 E 1 20 21 22 23 24: 26 27 8 HOLIDAY CARD GREETING 20 30 31 More than 13% of major online retailers, THE MOST EVER IN THE PAST 6 YEARS, mentioned Christmas/Holidays in their emails. What kind of business greeting cards lead to a more positive perception of a company? Sir Henry Cole, an English civil servant and inventor in London, commissioned the first commercial Christmas cards in 1843. 55% HA! 53% 50% Customers are responding Sending commercial HUMOROUS to early shopping offers, so more retailers are not only promoting CAUSE-RELATED ECO-FRIENDLY business cards dates back to the 18th gift-shopping in July, they're also selling seasonal products like wreaths and ornaments Some industries where humor was acceptable: century, an ancestor of the modern gor not just generic sales on non-seasonal merchandise. Christmas card. НAI 44% HEALTH SERVICES HAPPY HOLIDAYS 47% According to the National Retail Federation, nearly of shoppers start Christmas/Holidəy shopping before Halloween. 44% HUMAN RESOURCES 40% ESTATE 37% INSURANCE HAI Jop BUSINESS GIFTS SMALL-BUSINESS GIFT HOW THE ECONOMY GIVING AT 5-YEAR LOW IS AFFECTING BUSINESS BUSINESS GIFT SPENDING ON THE RISE AGAIN 49% Cards or Calendars $1,483 HAPPY 2OLIDAYS GIFT-GIVING 26% Gift Certificates for Retail or Restaurants 43% 70% 39% 23% Company Branded Items in in Give Fewer Gifts $740 $827 VS. Fruit/Food 18% Basket Charity Donation tied 2011 2006 39% Give 157 155 10% Flowers/ Plants Less-Expensive Gifts tied Wine/Liquor 23% Stopped Giving Gifts Altogether Small-business owners The maximum amount companies can deduct for a business gift to any 25 that planned to give gifts to clients one person during a single tax year. (Yes, we know this adds up to 101%, but that's what the data sald.) 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 SOURCES http://econsultancy.com/us/blog/10503-olympics-and-christmas-emails-hit-our-inboxes-this-july http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_card http://www.nrf.com/modules.php?name%3DNews&op=viewlive&sp_jd%3D1225 http://eon.businesswire.com/news/eon/20091203005882/en/business-greeting-cards/business-holiday-cards/charity-greeting-cards The "It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like .. Christmas?" business holiday marketing infographic was designed by 123Print, a leader in printing personalized business and social communications products, including affordable business printing, custom business cards, letterhead, business holiday greeting cards and business holiday invitations. Visit 123print.com to learn ore. http://jan.ocregister.com/tag/greeting-cards/ http://sbinformation.about.com/od/sales/a/corporategifts.htm http://jan.ocregister.com/2011/11/25/small-busnessz-not-in-gift-giving-mood/75503/ http://www.bizfilings.com/toolkit/sbg/tax-info/fed-taxes/deducting-meal-and-entertainment-expenses.aspx 123PRINT