More US consumers than ever say they aren’t spending on the holidays: The expected rebound in holiday shopping hides the fact that many consumers are keeping their wallets closed, while others are turning to buy now, pay later plans for gifts they can’t afford.

Gift Card Purchasing Will Stay Steady, Continue Shifting Online. Almost three-quarters of US consumers plan to purchase the same number of gift cards in 2022 as in 2021, according to an October 2021 Fiserv survey. People have been opting for gift cards due to supply chain concerns. They will shift toward buying digital rather than physical gift cards in 2022 as use stays steady.

The 2021 holiday season saw the highest retail growth in 20 years, setting the stage for a solid 2022 holiday season.

Kindle books, gift cards, pet food, shoes, and nutritional supplements are just a few of the top categories purchased during last year’s holiday season. Product-wise, some of the most popular items were Amazon and DoorDash electronic gift cards, along with food products such as Kool-Aid, Minute Maid, Pepsi Zero Sugar, and Chef Boyardee.

Now if customers go into a Nordstrom's or an Anthropologie or an independent gift shop, they already know the brand. II: What barriers have you encountered when trying to foster a community with consumers? KL: Our biggest barrier has been not having any in-person interactions.