Shoppers Flock to Web, Mobile Devices to Hunt Down Holiday Bargains

New York, NY and Los Angeles, CA - With only a few days of shopping left before Santa descends from the North Pole, a recent study from Ipsos MediaCT conducted with Google has analyzed some of the shopping habits and trends from the 2011 holiday shopping season. Several key trends emerge from the study, including the growing popularity of Black Friday deals and the importance of the Internet and mobile technology on the purchase decision process.

Traditionally, the Thanksgiving weekend marks the unofficial start of the Christmas period, and for retailers, the weekend is one of the biggest days on the calendar. For many holiday shoppers, Black Friday is the big kick-off for the holidays shopping season and one that bargain-hunting consumers have come to love.

"Earlier in the year, we predicted a rise in Black Friday shopping this year and that has proven to be true," says Jared Mack, Director with Ipsos' media research team. "Shoppers took to Black Friday deals like never before, with Google reporting giant leaps in searches for Black Friday deals and retailers opening their doors to greater numbers of enthused bargain hunters."

But no doubt, technology has become central to holiday bargain hunting. A key finding in the Ipsos study is the rising importance of mobile technology in helping shoppers locate bargains and make purchases. Among smartphone users, nearly 20% of their online purchases are expected to be made on their device this holiday season and about half of smartphone users plan to download or use an app to help with their holiday shopping. Considering it makes up a notable share of the shopping done online, retailers skip mobile at their own risk."

"Online research conducted during the holiday shopping season is prolific and the Internet is the top source for holiday shopping information, beating other traditional and print media sources such as catalogs, newspapers, friends and family," says Tina Chiu, Senior Research Manager with Ipsos. "Online research also largely influences people's buying decisions on the brands, retailers, and types of gifts they choose."

Armed with technology and mobile devices in hand, today's American consumer is savvy with the tools of the trade, but they are also savvy deal hunters.

"Consumers are on the hunt for deals. They are more vigilant about product research and searching online before heading out to the store," adds Mack. "Many shoppers this year will wait until after Christmas for post-Christmas deals. Our research predicts that more shoppers will be taking advantage of after Christmas deals compared to prior years and it will be interesting to see after the retailers report their sales data if this predicted trend does hold."

For more information on this news release please contact: Elen Alexov Director, Marketing Services Ipsos North America (778) 373-5136 [email protected]

About Ipsos MediaCT

Ipsos MediaCT is the market research specialization within Ipsos built to reach, engage and more effectively understand today's digitally-driven consumer in the fast moving media, content and technology space. By integrating new technologies and immersive techniques with extensive traditional research experience, Ipsos MediaCT's market leading research solutions help clients better understand media and technology consumption, evaluate content, monitor the value of brands and provide guidance for successful innovation. The Ipsos MediaCT approach results in deeper and more profound consumer insights that allow companies to maximize their return on investment.

To learn more, please visit, www.ipsos-na.com/media.

About Ipsos

Ipsos is a leading global survey-based market research company, owned and managed by research professionals. Ipsos helps interpret, simulate, and anticipate the needs and responses of consumers, customers, and citizens around the world.

Member companies 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. They measure public opinion around the globe.

Ipsos member companies offer expertise in advertising, customer loyalty, marketing, media, and public affairs research, as well as forecasting, modeling, and consulting. Ipsos has a full line of custom, syndicated, omnibus, panel, and online research products and services, guided by industry experts and bolstered by advanced analytics and methodologies. The company was founded in 1975 and has been publicly traded since 1999.

In 2010, Ipsos generated global revenues of e1.140 billion ($1.6 billion U.S.).

Visit www.ipsos.com to learn more about Ipsos' offerings and capabilities.