A flurry of holiday economic forecasts has just been released, and if the predictions hold true, this year’s holiday season will be a joyous one for retailers.
First, there’s Deloitte’s annual holiday economic forecast, which estimates that total retail sales will increase 5-5.6 percent, while consumers’ average holiday spend will rise from $1,226 to $1,536 per consumer.
If that doesn’t get your heart to grow three sizes with excitement, there’s even more encouraging news. More holiday shoppers will head to physical stores this year — 88 percent of consumers overall — a six percentage-point increase from 2017, according to the annual In-Store Holiday Shopping survey from Natural Insight.
Shoppers will also be out earlier this year, according to the report, with 47 percent of holiday shopping happening before December, a 10-point increase over last year.
What does this mean to you? It means that right now is the most important time of the year for your business. This is especially true in the alcohol industry, where 28 percent ($12.1 billion) of total yearly spirit sales and 33 percent ($6.9 billion) of yearly wine sales happen between October 1 and December 31.*
If it’s not already crystal clear, now is the time of year to get customers into your store, and they are not just shopping for gifts for others, but for themselves as well.
According to Deloitte, more than three-quarters of consumers (78 percent) plan to shop for themselves during the holiday season, and 42 percent of those are likely to choose food and liquor as their preferred method of self-pampering.
As opportunistic as the holiday selling season can be for retailers, it can still be stressful for consumers who must weigh the ability to browse and discover gift ideas in stores against the holiday crowds.
As a retailer, it is imperative to be prepared for early holiday shoppers and provide an exceptional in-store experience for your customers. Make sure your inventory of gift-worthy spirits and wines are well stocked and merchandised in a way that is easy for early shoppers to navigate.
To help you cut through the clutter and ensure that you have a selection of gifts ready for your customers to discover, we put together a guide to this season’s best bottles of whisky, wine and of course, holiday bubbles.
This list is only a small selection of our complete holiday inventory. Your Breakthru Sales Consultant is available to help you refine your selection at any time, all you need to do is ask.
1. Rémy Martin 1738, 2. Rémy Martin VSOP, 3. Rémy Martin XO, 4. Korbel Brandy, 5. St. George Spirits Pear Brandy
1. Sterling Vineyards Sparkling Blanc de Blanc, 2. Sterling Vintners Collection Prosecco, 3. Gruet Brut, 4. Korbel California Champagne Brut, 5. Champagne Collet Brut Art Deco, 6. Benvolio Prosecco
1. Banfi Brunello di Montalchinno, 2. Penfolds Max's Shiraz, 3. Sonoma-Cutrer Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, 4. Stag's Leap The Investor Red Wine, 5. J. Lohr Signature Cabernet Sauvignon, 6. Hartford Court Russian River Pinot Noir
1. WhistlePig 10 Year Old Straight Rye Whiskey, 2. Old Forester 1910 Old Fine Whiskey, 3. Jack Daniel's Gentleman Jack, 4. Clyde May's Cask Strength Straight Bourbon, 5. George Remus Repeal Reserve II, 6. Woodford Reserve Distiller's Select Bourbon Whiskey
1. The Macallan Double Cask 12 Years Old, 2. Compass Box The Peat Monster, 3. The Balvenie Caribbean Cask 14 Year, 4. Bruichladdich Scottish Barley The Classic Laddie, 5. The Macallan Sherry Oak Cask 12 Years Old, 6. The GlenDronach Original Aged 12 Years