Bahumbug for some, while shoppers started early this holiday, and for good reason

Bahumbug for some, while shoppers started early this holiday, and for good reason.Photo byPalm Coast Local

Local Retailers and Shoppers

In Palm Coast and Flagler County Florida, we are seeing the Christmas lights go up and holiday sales begin. This trend is not unique to us here in our cozy city population of just over 120K. We are seeing holiday 'can good' drop boxes, Christmas gift donations and early event promotions that started in early November while the shopping trends are in full swing.

For some it's bahumbug, while others who are budget minded this holiday season have already begun shopping early. If you are not geared for the Christmas season by now, you may be missing out on those early shoppers who are already out in full force.

According to the Florida Retail Federation, shoppers want to spread out their holiday spending budget for this year and shopping at our local retails stores while waiting for the online deals for Black Friday and Cyber Monday. This means more cash and debit sales from those early shoppers for local retailers.

2023 holiday spending habits are expected to rise, with an average of $875 planned for gifts, decorations, food, and other seasonal items – a significant increase from last year. The majority of this spending will be directed towards gifts ($620), while the remaining portion will go towards decorations, candy, and food ($255).

Gift cards top the wish list this season, with 55% of respondents indicating their preference for this option. Clothing and accessories follow closely at 49%, while books, video games, and other media also hold a special place at 28%. Personal care or beauty items (25%) and experiential, hobby and collectors gifts (23%) round out the top five.

In terms of shopping destinations, online shopping continues to reign supreme, with 58% of respondents opting for e-commerce. Department stores (49%), discount stores (48%), grocery stores (44%), clothing stores (32%), small businesses (24%), and electronics stores (20%) remain popular choices.

When you “Find It in Florida,” you’re supporting local businesses and local jobs.

Florida retailers provide one out of every five jobs in the state. Florida retailers generate $104 billion in annual economic impact and pay more than $69 billion in wages each year. Florida retailers collect and remit more than $20 billion in sales taxes to support our state’s schools, roads and infrastructure.

Here in Palm Coast we see an uptick in holiday event spending from local retail and vendors who are out in the community celebrating the season with their offerings.

The Florida Retail Federation encourages consumers to embrace the "Find it in Florida" program, a grassroots campaign that promotes local shopping. By supporting a local businesses Palm Coast and Flagler County Business, consumers directly contribute to the growth of our community, fostering job creation and economic prosperity.

Florida retailers and professional services are a driving force in the state's economy, accounting for one in five jobs and generating an annual economic impact of $104 billion. Additionally, they collect and remit over $20 billion in sales taxes, supporting public schools, roads, and infrastructure.

So go ahead and string those holiday lights early and go hit our local retail stores early while saying bahumbug to the banumbuggers and enjoy the season for what it is meant to be. Go celebrate, plan with friends and family, eat merry, be kind and joyous because 2024 is around the corner and it's going to be a game changer.

If you are a local shopper or retailer, post int he comments so others can find you. If you are a holiday local shopper, share your find in the comments so others can know too.

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