Puget Sound Citizens to Kickoff Thanksgiving Away From Home (and Away from Football)

Seattle, WA - A recent survey of planned activities over the Thanksgiving holiday finds residents of the Puget Sound area planning to travel and watching surprisingly little football.

A recent survey conducted by Ipsos MarketQuest found that almost half (48%) of respondents from the Puget Sound area plan to limit their shopping and decorating time by being a dinner guest at someone else's home on Thanksgiving.

Regardless of whether they are going elsewhere or staying at home for the holidays, residents don't plan to watch that much football. Half (53%) indicated they would watch no football at all on Thanksgiving. One thing is for sure, things will be cooking in the Puget Sound this Thanksgiving, with almost everyone (93%) - regardless of whether they are the host or guest - planning to spend at least some time in the kitchen. Turkey will definitely be on the menu, being the favorite Thanksgiving dish for 31% (evenly split between white and dark meat).

On the retail front, Puget Sound area residents don't have plans to `shop until they drop' though, as two thirds of respondents (67%) indicate they have no plans to participate in Black Friday. However, residents seem more willing to wait a few days for online deals following the weekend, with 45% indicating they probably or definitely will not participate in Cyber Monday.

"Being from the Puget Sound, we are probably a little more open to participating in Cyber Monday," says Mary Kaye O'Brien, Vice President and Managing Director with Ipsos MarketQuest in Seattle. "But, clearly, the recent retail trend of opening on Thanksgiving evening is not a hit locally - 72% of our survey respondents felt it is ruining the holiday season for them."

These are the findings of an Ipsos MarketQuest survey fielded from November 4 to 12, 2013. This online survey of 275 Puget Sound residents was conducted using Ipsos MarketQuest's exclusive "Voice of the Northwest" panel - an online panel of more than 275 Puget Sound area citizens. Statistical margins of error are not applicable to online studies of this nature, however, an unweighted probability sample of this size, with a 100% response rate, would have an estimated margin of error of +/- 8.3 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

For more information on this news release please contact:

Mary Kaye O'Brien Vice President Ipsos MarketQuest 425-586-5589 [email protected]

About Ipsos

Ipsos is an independent market research company controlled and managed by research professionals. Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos has grown into a worldwide research group with a strong presence in all key markets. In October 2011 Ipsos completed the acquisition of Synovate. The combination forms the world's third largest market research company.

With offices in 85 countries, Ipsos delivers insightful expertise across six research specializations: advertising, customer loyalty, marketing, media, public affairs research, and survey management.

Ipsos researchers assess market potential and interpret market trends. They develop and build brands. They help clients build long-term relationships with their customers. They test advertising and study audience responses to various media and they measure public opinion around the globe.

Ipsos has been listed on the Paris Stock Exchange since 1999 and generated global revenues of e1,789 billion (2.300 billion USD) in 2012.