As retailers head into the golden quarter, and the construct as much as the festive interval commences, new analysis from eBay Advertising UK has revealed shopper attitudes and preferences when Christmas shopping.
What ought to elevate a smile for companies is festive budgets are on the rise, as 32% of customers intend to spend extra this 12 months – up from 24% in 2024.
The development is much more pronounced amongst youthful customers, with 56% of Millennials and 51% of Gen Z planning to extend their budgets, suggesting a want to ‘go big’ on festive shopping.
Millennials are additionally the most important spenders general, with a mean Christmas funds final 12 months of just about £1,000 (£993.77), in comparison with the UK common of £779. In distinction, Generation X are displaying indicators of warning, with simply over a quarter (26%) planning to spend much less, highlighting a “generational divide” in festive attitudes.
Another key take from the survey of two,000 Christmas customers reveals that ‘self-gifting’ is about to surge, with virtually one in three individuals (29%) saying they are going to prioritise themselves when Christmas shopping, rising to 50% of Millennials admitting they purpose to spend extra on themselves than household and mates this Christmas.
Fashion and equipment high Brits’ self-gifting checklist this Black Friday and Christmas (31%), with magnificence and wellness (27%), electronics (24%), family necessities (23%) and gaming (19%) shut behind – “a mix of indulgence and practicality” that displays evolving shopper priorities.
Over half (56%) of customers say on-line adverts have immediately influenced their shopping for choices in the course of the Christmas season and, with budgets on the rise, customers are turning to on-line marketplaces like eBay to seek out each inspiration and worth.
Convenience and value stay key drivers, as 38% say they store on marketplaces to save lots of time, whereas 33% respect with the ability to purchase for a number of individuals in a single place, and 31% are motivated by higher offers.
Additionally, when it comes to buy influences, over half of customers (51%) say they usually await promotions or low cost codes earlier than shopping for presents.
Billy Mills, Senior Director of Enterprise Seller Development & Brands at eBay, mentioned: “This peak season isn’t nearly gifting – it’s about recognising the moments customers select for themselves. We’re seeing a transparent shift, particularly amongst Millennials, in the direction of extra private, really feel-good spending.
“That’s a real opportunity for sellers: to position products not just as thoughtful gifts, but as meaningful purchases that resonate. Marketplaces like eBay are uniquely placed to meet that moment – helping people discover items that offer both value and personal reward, exactly when they’re ready to buy.”