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Shaun King, Vice President International Sales at Triton will continue to be determining factors for 85 percent of
Systems of Delaware LLC, noted that stocking shelves shoppers. In addition, 42 percent of respondents expect to
based on anticipated volumes is not the norm for most begin shopping before Black Friday, 28 percent will wait
manufacturers. "We've encouraged people to move until after Thanksgiving and 67 percent will be finished by
quickly," he said. "Those who have already requested kits mid-December, the survey noted.
are covered, because we've ordered for them in advance."
Analysts also expect broader adoption of digital wallets
Unintended consequences and tools to influence consumer behavior during the
holidays. Consumers increasingly rely on connected
LeRoy Huntimer, Director of ATMs and POS Sponsorships devices to research and purchase products: 82 percent use
at MetaBank added, "Fraudsters are going around with smartphones to find and redeem coupons, compare prices
fraudulent cards, draining your ATMs. The only way to and research products; more than half of survey respondents
protect yourself is to implement EMV." search for deals online, with 37 percent expecting to use
ecommerce due to their ability to shop anytime, anywhere
Mike Nelson, Vice President Business Development at with prioritized delivery and shipping options; and more
Payment Alliance International, said criminals will focus than 60 percent prefer to go to retail stores to participate in
on noncompliant ATM terminals. "Basically, the bad guys unique, seasonal offers and in-store experiences.
will figure out where the non-EMV compliant ATMs are
and go get them," he said, adding that location guides on Gift cards, loyalty top the list
many bank websites indicate which ATMs are ready to
accept chip-enabled cards, creating a virtual roadmap for Gift cards were among the most popular items on most
criminals. shopping lists, with 67 percent of shoppers planning to give
gift cards and 32 percent expecting to buy more gift cards
Marc Cleven, Senior Director, Global Chip Operations at than in previous years.
Visa, said operators want customers, particularly those who
travel internationally, to know which ATMs accept their Payments analysts expect many consumers to use their
chip cards. "Visa came under pressure to add the [ATM] favorite loyalty programs as a form of currency throughout
locator," he said. "By the end of Q1 2017, the United States the holiday season, redeeming points and miles in
will be a chip card nation. The U.S. is currently the largest exchange for gifts. A recent study by Points International
chip card issuer in the world." Ltd. found that 92 percent of consumers belong to loyalty
programs; the company anticipates more growth in loyalty
Retailers pin hopes on programs as mobile wallets gain adoption. In The State of
early holiday shoppers Mobile Wallet Loyalty and Engagement 2016, Points stated that
89.6 percent of consumers gravitate to retailers that support
A s peak retail season approaches, retail ana- their favorite loyalty programs.
lysts are predicting healthy sales figures based
on improved consumer confidence and early "Ease of use was the prevailing theme of the study," said
shopping trends. Synchrony Financial's Annual Danielle Brown, Vice President of Marketing at Points
Holiday Shopping Study, published Oct. 27, 2016, found International. "We need to find ways to seamlessly blend
more than half of survey respondents have begun their established loyalty programs and mobile wallets, to make
holiday shopping. The study, conducted by RTi Research consumer loyalty optimally interactive and minimally
recently surveyed 1,600 U.S. shoppers and combined their intrusive."
responses with historical data, macroeconomic factors and
trends. Optimizing the mobile experience
The report found many consumers spend the entire year Both Synchrony Financial and Points International
planning for the holidays. Bart Schaller, Executive Vice expect to see near-term growth in text and location-based
President and Chief Marketing Officer at Synchrony offers as more consumers opt in to receive discounts and
Financial noted that "caution overrides personal optimism, promotions. Customized alerts for frequently purchased
and shoppers tell us they're carefully planning, pacing and items, based on location and behavioral data, can create
prioritizing their holiday purchases to stay on schedule a more personalized experience between consumers and
and on budget." their favorite brands, the companies stated.
"I could be walking by a sandwich shop and get an alert
that offers 200 miles from my favorite airline with my lunch
purchase," Brown said.
Report authors predicted a 2 percent increase in consumer Mobile and online alerts can also remind consumers of
spending, with 34 percent of shoppers expecting to spend billing due dates. For example, Synchrony Bank cardholders
more during the holidays, compared with 32 percent can create customized alerts based on payment due date,
during the same period in 2015. And sales and discounts balances and spending thresholds.
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