The Christmas season insights for eBay sellers

• Consumer sentiment
• Buyer demographics
• Trending categories before Christmas
• Opportunities for homeware sellers

The most celebrated holiday of the year is ahead, and eBay sellers all over the world are getting ready for the sales boost that always accompanies Christmas. However, to make the most out of the holiday season, one needs to understand their buyers’ mindset and the current spending trends. Here’re useful insights you can use in the upcoming months.

Consumer sentiment

The recent surveys show that the festive spirit is still alive despite economic pressures, inflation and the rising cost of living. Consumers adjust their spending habits to offset the increasing prices: they cut down non-essential expenses to save money for gift-giving and socializing [1]. In the months before the holiday season, many people skimp on eating out, streaming services and clothes [2]. But after all this austerity, they will be ready to splurge! Both in the US and in Europe, young people that belong to Gen Z have the strongest intent to splash out [3].

So, according to Deloitte [4] and PwC [2] statistics for the Christmas season last year:

The takeaway

Consider key trends in consumer behavior when building your inventory and developing promotional strategies for the Christmas season:

• Buyers are trading down looking for savings
• Despite being cost-conscious, buyers tend to splurge in certain areas
• Many are willing to try new or smaller brands (especially millennials and Gen Z buyers)
• A large share of buyers prefer environmentally friendly products

To find out more about these trends, please read our article on Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Buyer demographics

It’s important to remember that different age groups have different approaches to pre-Christmas spending. If you understand how and why they’re using ‘holiday money’, you’ll be better able to appeal to them in your item descriptions and ad campaigns.

Want to understand your target audience better? Please read our article on this topic.

The takeaway

Appealing to millennials is a surefire approach. Since they celebrate Christmas so actively, maximize festive vibes for them! Customize your eBay store using seasonal banners and pictures, add item photos with Christmas-themed backgrounds and decor. Announce holiday sales, offer gift wraps and volume discounts. Add gift recommendations to your listings’ titles and descriptions: “Christmas gift for her”, “Christmas gift for kids”, etc. Learn more about peak season tools in the dedicated article.

Trending categories before Christmas

In December, these product groups are likely to be on the peak of popularity according to eBay’s analytical data:

• Hoodies and sweatshirts (+60% as compared to the average demand)
• Blankets and throws (+80)
• String lights (+190%)
• Remote controlled toys (+70%)
• Headphones (+50%)
• Video games (+50%)

What people are looking for

The approach to gift-giving has shifted from extravagance to meaning. In the UK, about two thirds (64%) of those surveyed claim that thoughtful gifts bring more joy than expensive ones [6].

• Something to keep you warm

In general, colder temperatures before Christmas make people think about warm and cozy gifts: heated blankets, warm clothes, fuzzy throws, thermal flasks, and such. It’s especially true for European countries where energy bills are growing relentlessly. For example, 37% of consumers in the UK plan to buy items that will help them get through longer periods without heating [6].

• Something for spending time at home

In the attempt to save money, consumers are more likely to socialize at home instead of eating out or going to a recreational venue. In the UK, 36% of those surveyed say they will meet with their friends at home, and about half of respondents are going to dine at home more [6]. Which means they need homeware items for hosting holiday dinners and parties: wine glasses, dinner sets, utensils, tablecloths, etc. These items always show a spike in interest before Christmas.

• Pre-loved or refurbished items

Two powerful trends of the recent years (economy and environmental concerns) have resulted in the growing demand for pre-loved, vintage, or refurbished items. It’s especially true for consumer electronics: 58% of eBay buyers are likely to shop in “Consumer Electronics: used, open box” category [5].

• Something for holiday travels

For example, in the UK one in five consumers plan to have a Christmas getaway [7]. Some of them are going to visit friends or relatives, others head to warmer countries or winter destinations. In any case, they will need items for traveling such as suitcases, neck pillows, travel kits and such. And, of course, they will purchase clothes and items for their vacation: be that cold clothes and footwear or bikinis and sunscreen.

Opportunities for homeware sellers

In Europe, small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) can benefit from the transition of homeware and decor shopping to e-commerce. In the UK and Germany, which are generally representative of general EU trends, over 50% of shoppers make most of their purchases in this category via online channels [8].

eBay sellers can attract environmental-conscious buyers by providing sustainable alternatives to mainstream products by large retailers. 65% of German and British buyers say that they consider sustainability important or very important for their purchase decisions [8]. Artisans and vintage sellers on eBay can satisfy the demand for unique, one-of-a-kind items.

Who is shopping for homeware:

• Craft-inspired buyers that value high quality and aren’t too thrifty
• Those who seek creativity and unique style
• Environment-conscious shoppers who seek refurbished or upcycled products
• Price sensitive customers who shop for DIY projects

To benefit from the growing demand for unique and sustainable homeware in Europe, list your items on eBay regional sites: ebay.co.uk, ebay.de, ebay.fr, ebay.es, ebay.it and others. The free eBaymag tool will help you easily import and create listings on eight regional sites. All the information in the listings will be automatically translated in the corresponding languages.

The takeaway

If you are thinking about expanding or updating your eBay inventory, the Christmas season is probably the best time for it. Try selling items from the homeware category to benefit from the increasing demand.

Now, with all this knowledge about buyer sentiment, buyer behavior trends and trending gifts for this Christmas, you are ready to get down to business. Our next article is about practical tools that will help you plan an effective marketing strategy, optimize your listings, and sell more during the peak season.