Holiday visual merchandizing trends 2023
his holiday season, retailers around the world are adorning their storefronts with festive cheer and imaginative displays to captivate the hearts of shoppers. At the forefront of this yuletide, one of the spectacles is Macy's, the iconic department store that has long been synonymous with holiday magic. With the grand unveiling of its mesmerizing holiday display window and thoughtfully crafted store layout at Herald Square, New York, Macy's once again takes center stage in setting the tone for the season's visual merchandising trends.
Inspired by Macy’s, we delve into the broader landscape of Visual Merchandising (VM), decoding the season’s trends that extend far beyond a single storefront. We will navigate through the varied tapestry of holiday visual merchandising, exploring the distinctive expressions of other renowned brands, deciphering the influence of the Color of the Year, and unraveling the art of creating compelling displays that not only capture the festive spirit but also drive sales for your brand.
As the holiday season approaches, anticipating consumer behavior becomes paramount for retailers. With buyer shopping sprees already kicking in, and the much-awaited Black Friday sales beckoning, retailers are on their toes managing inventory, auditing quality, and streamlining their warehouse operations. On the digital front, they’re busy implementing their robust strategies with regards to social media management, targeted marketing, in-depth sales analysis, and trend forecasting. Adapting to these data-driven insights ensures businesses are not only well-equipped for the holiday rush but also strategically aligned with evolving consumer preferences.
Visual merchandizing is super important when it comes to wooing buyers. Read about its impact on sales here. This year we are back with fresh predictions and forecasts so you can be inspired by some visual merchandizing ideas that are being brandished by the big labels out there!
1. What’s it about the holiday retail trends this year?
The forecast for the 2023 holiday season points to a significant shift in consumer behavior, with a significant 22% of shoppers initiating their holiday shopping as early as August 2022. This trend is expected to intensify in 2023, driven by heightened inflation and increased prices of consumer goods. Retail giants like Amazon, Walmart, and Target are proactively responding by offering early deals to accommodate this evolving pattern of early shopping.
In terms of spending, consumers are projected to increase their budgets by a healthy 7% this year, with an average allocation of $1,530 for gifts, travel, and entertainment. The surge in spending extends to travel-related expenses, anticipating a robust 12% rise compared to the 2022 holiday season. Nearly 40% of consumers express their intention to spend more overall than the previous year, indicating a buoyant holiday season for retailers.
Gen Z is emerging as a significant player in holiday spending, with consumers aged 17-25 expanding their budgets. Gen Z shoppers exhibit preferences for browsing gift ideas in physical stores and on social media, along with a strong inclination toward mobile payments. To capture this market, brands can cultivate Gen Z consumer loyalty by aligning with these preferences.
Another notable trend involves the increasing adoption of emerging technologies in the retail landscape. From GenAI gift advice to virtual customer service interactions, enthusiasts are embracing technological innovations to enhance the holiday shopping experience. This signifies a growing integration of tech-driven solutions to meet evolving consumer expectations. If you wish to get familiar with AI-driven tactics, read our blog on how to leverage AI effectively.
Reflecting on the trends from the previous year (2022), early shopping behavior and price sensitivity were prevalent factors. Shoppers, concerned about potential inventory issues and long delivery times, started their holiday shopping earlier, with 54% actively seeking holiday deals before Thanksgiving. Brands are advised to plan their holiday marketing campaigns even earlier to align with this ongoing trend. Furthermore, Black Friday and Cyber Monday continue to play pivotal roles in holiday discounts, particularly crucial as rising prices drive consumers to actively seek the best deals. Marketers can leverage these insights to refine their strategies and optimize sales during the festive season.
2. Using trend forecast for Visual Merchandizing
Without rhyme or reason, visual merchandizing will fail to capture your target-audience’s fancy. As a retailer/store owner, ensure you conduct holistic research and analysis before you put up just another hastily-planned visual display on your storefront. Dive deeper into trend studies, forecasts, and follow popular design associations for thoroughly-surveyed data. Heed aspects such as layout, lighting, signage, and colors schemes.
You can take inspiration from the color of the year and the color palette provided by the most popular and preferred color system portal ‘Pantone.’
Every year, Pantone releases a “Color of the Year,” a symbolic choice that reflects global trends, cultural influences, and societal sentiments. This carefully curated color holds significant relevance across industries such as fashion, design, and marketing. It serves as a creative touchstone, inspiring designers and businesses in product development, visual aesthetics, and marketing strategies. The Color of the Year acts as a reflection of collective mood and aspirations, influencing design trends and fostering innovation. Designers and marketers leverage this choice to connect with consumers, creating a shared visual language that resonates across diverse audiences. In essence, Pantone’s Color of the Year is not just a hue; it is a cultural phenomenon that shapes the visual landscape, influencing our perception of design and aesthetics each year.
3. Why is Pantone Color of the Year important?
The Pantone Color of the Year holds significant importance, acting as a key influencer in consumer choices and shaping perceptions. For businesses, it highlights that color plays a pivotal role beyond aesthetics, impacting consumer decisions. On an individual level, it raises awareness about the impressions conveyed through personal color choices, influencing daily moods and self-expression.
Color is more than a visual element; it serves as a universal language. Hence, the Color of the Year becomes a vibrant symbol, not just of trends but of color’s profound impact on our shared human experience.
With “Viva Magenta” (18-1750) being the Color of the Year, in 2023, let’s know its relevance, importance, color psychology, and usage!
4. Why choose Viva Magenta & its color psychology
Reds hold a powerful symbolism, representing vitality and the celebration of life. Viva Magenta, as a vibrant crimson red, strikes a harmonious balance between boldness and a sense of fun. This lively blend radiates a spirit of rebellion without sacrificing its inherent softness, embodying a unique expression of fierce grace. It encourages us to present ourselves with confidence and humanity, embracing our individuality.
In the digital era, marked by accelerated globalization, our connections have deepened in unprecedented ways. Despite the surface-level understanding we have of friends and strangers, there is always an opportunity to cultivate empathy. Viva Magenta, as the Color of the Year 2023, resonates with our collective desire to embrace new challenges and explore unconventional paths. It symbolizes a commitment to approaching others with compassion, recognizing the complexities that lie beneath the surface of our interactions. In essence, Viva Magenta becomes a vibrant expression of our willingness to navigate uncharted territories with both boldness and empathy.
5. How to use Viva Magenta
• Viva Magenta in Fashion
To showcase the allure of Viva Magenta in your store’s apparel, convey its essence with this persuasive pitch:
For a bold, confident look, make a statement with the Color of the Year. On quieter days, let Viva Magenta shine as an accessory, complementing it with pale grays, blues, or pastels. Embrace the monochromatic trend by pairing it with other pinks for a commanding presence. Viva Magenta’s unique appeal lies in its balance between warm and cool tones, adding a touch of fun and celebration without being harsh on the body. It’s a versatile shade, universally flattering on lips, cheeks, and nails, making it suitable for all ages, genders, and skin tones.
Viva Magenta offers a dynamic and celebratory element to your wardrobe, allowing you to express yourself confidently while remaining versatile and universally appealing. Whether you prefer bold statements or subtle accents, this color seamlessly integrates into various styles, making it a must-have for fashion enthusiasts of all preferences.
• Viva Magenta in Home & Interiors
For the bold and adventurous designers, embracing the full impact of the Color of the Year means incorporating it into luxurious elements such as a velvet couch or a lacquered wall. Alternatively, for those seeking a more subdued ambience, it serves perfectly as a vibrant pop of color. Picture it as a sculptural Murano glass lighting fixture adding flair to an all-neutral dining room, or a striking ikebana floral arrangement infusing life into a neutral space.
Even as a glowing abstract canvas or NFT projection in a white entryway, Viva Magenta effortlessly injects drama into any setting, proving that a small dose of this dynamic color can make a significant design statement.
• Viva Magenta in Graphic Design
In the modern era, consumers devote significant time to screens dominated by pale and neutral visuals. Designers seeking a hue that breaks through this digital landscape will discover the Color of the Year 2023 as an enthralling solution. A brand incorporating Viva Magenta signals fearlessness, engagement, and an unconventional perspective in approaching the world to devise innovative solutions.
• Viva Magenta in Packaging
For brands seeking a lively and passionate image, leveraging Viva Magenta can evoke a robust consumer response. Reds, being advancing colors, naturally capture attention, pushing aside surrounding hues. Whether consumers are scrolling through their phones or navigating store aisles, incorporating the Color of the Year 2023 ensures your brand stands out and makes a memorable impact.
6. Viva Magenta in action
Keep reading to discover a handpicked curation offered by Qalara on the Viva Magenta theme!
7. Pantone® Fashion Color Trend Report: New York Fashion Week Spring 2024
Pantone® Color Institute experts have curated a palette for NYFW Spring 2024 that combines a touch of nostalgia with a celebration of transformation, reflecting a shift towards a more positive way of living. The color palette evokes a sense of freedom and encourages the exploration of creative potential, symbolizing a collective journey to reimagine the future. At the heart of fashion is a desire for personal self-expression, and the chosen tones exude feelings of joy and comfort, signaling a bold entry into a new era.
~ Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone® Color Institute
8. Impressions of the visual
Visuals can leave a lasting impression upon the beholder. We had discussed how businesses/retailers/e-commerce avenues give immense precedence to laying out the perfect visual designs so as to charm visitors of their stores and websites.
Following are the storefronts and homepages of some of the biggest brands in the world this holiday season:
• Holiday-ready storefronts:
• Holiday-ready website inspirations:
9. Upcoming prospects
This holiday season, the metaverse is poised to revolutionize online shopping, offering exciting opportunities for retailers and consumers alike. Let’s find out these trends and prospects:
• Immersive retail experiences: With a projected 1 billion users by 2030, extended reality (XR) is becoming essential for every brand’s omnichannel strategy. Seamlessly implemented immersive experiences can transform in-store, out-of-store, and digital product visualization. Forbes states that Brands like Vans have already embraced this trend by creating interactive skateparks in the metaverse, allowing fans to explore skate sites, earn points, and shop for virtual sneakers and apparel.
• Pop-up virtual stores: Expect to see more virtual pop-up stores within the metaverse. These ephemeral spaces provide unique shopping experiences, limited-time offers, and exclusive merchandise. Retailers can leverage these virtual storefronts to engage with consumers during peak shopping seasons.
• AR-driven in-store holiday events: Augmented reality (AR) enhances the shopping journey. Retailers can host AR-driven events where customers virtually try on products, visualize holiday decorations, or participate in interactive games. These experiences create memorable moments and drive sales.
• Virtual try-ons increasing: The metaverse enables consumers to virtually try on clothing, accessories, and cosmetics. Retailers can integrate virtual fitting rooms into their online platforms, allowing shoppers to visualize how items will look before making a purchase.
• Platform-based shopping: As metaverse platforms evolve, retailers should explore partnerships and integrations. Whether it is hosting events on Roblox, creating branded spaces in Decentraland, or collaborating with social VR platforms, retailers can tap into the metaverse’s vast audience and boost sales [Forbes].
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In the broader context, online shopping prospects during the holiday season are impressive. Close to 30% of global retail sales will occur via digital channels, signaling a paradigm shift in e-commerce market penetration. Retailers should also consider offering price adjustments throughout the season to reassure shoppers that they will get the best deal possible. Brands that embrace these trends can unlock new levels of engagement and drive success in the ever-evolving world of holiday shopping.
~ Written by Shambhavi
Raman
stumbled upon this blog, and it’s a total gem!
such a delightful read packed with super practical tips making the whole experience a visual treat.
definitely coming back for more..