Sleigh Your Sales This Christmas: Top 2024 Gift Trends for eCommerce Success - Competitor Price Monitoring

The holiday season is upon us, and there are opportunities for e-commerce businesses to shine. Whether you're a Shopify Plus user or leveraging powerful tools like PriceMole, this Christmas 2024 is about staying ahead of the curve. From uncovering the hottest gift trends to using dynamic pricing and competitor monitoring, this guide is your key to unlocking holiday success and boosting your sales like never before.

Why Monitoring Trends Matters

According to the latest NRF report, holiday retail sales in 2024 are projected to grow by 2.5% to 3.5%, reaching $989 billion. This growth reflects a steady holiday spending trend despite economic uncertainties. While the growth rate is slower than in previous years, approaching $1 trillion in sales demonstrates strong consumer demand.

Additionally, holiday spending per person is expected to rise in 2024, reaching a record high of $902, up from $875 in 2023. Most of this spending will go toward gifts, with an estimated $641 allocated for presents and $261 for seasonal items like decorations, food, and greeting cards.

Top Christmas 2024 Gift Trends

1. Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Gifts

With growing environmental awareness, eco-friendly holiday gifting is gaining traction. Sustainable gifts reflect your commitment to the planet while appealing to recipients who value sustainability. Here’s why it matters and some ideas to get you started.

Eco-friendly gifts help reduce waste, support ethical practices, and often come from brands focused on sustainability. Choosing these gifts contributes to a healthier planet and encourages others to follow your lead.

Sustainable Gift Ideas:

Reusable Products: Water bottles, shopping bags, and coffee cups reduce single-use plastics.
Organic and Natural Products: Skincare, clothing, and home goods made from organic materials.
Plant-Based Gifts: Plants, seeds, or gardening kits promote green living.
Upcycled and Recycled Products: Jewelry, home decor, and office supplies made from recycled materials.
Zero-Waste Kits: Practical kits with reusable straws, beeswax wraps, and bamboo utensils.

Consumers’ Growing Eco-Consciousness: Millennials and Gen Z are increasingly eco-conscious, with sustainable items like reusable homeware and eco-friendly gadgets dominating this year’s gift lists.

Dynamic Pricing Tip: Position and price eco-friendly products as premium yet competitive, emphasizing their long-term value. Eco-friendly gifts are a meaningful way to show appreciation while supporting sustainability, resonating with the growing eco-conscious consumer base.

2. Smart Home Devices

Many seek the perfect gift to bring convenience and innovation into their homes. Smart home products enhance daily living and add a layer of security and entertainment. From robotic vacuum cleaners to high-tech security cameras, there's a wide variety of options to suit every need.

These top picks offer cutting-edge technology, ensuring your loved ones can enjoy a more connected and efficient home environment this holiday season:

Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra: A top-of-the-line robotic vacuum for cleaning with precision.
Canary Pro: A smart security camera that monitors home safety.
Petcube GPS Tracker: Keep track of your pet's location anywhere.
Petcube Cam 360: A rotating camera for complete home surveillance.
Platin Milan 5.1: A sleek home theater system for a cinematic experience.
Halo Select Smart Lock: A secure and convenient way to manage your doors.
myQ Smart Indoor Camera: A camera for indoor security and monitoring.
Philips Hue Smart Lights: Control lighting remotely to set the perfect ambiance.
Ting Fire Prevention Sensor: A device that monitors fire risks and helps prevent damage.
Haikubox: A smart device to control and monitor your home's environment.
Pexar Digital Picture Frame: Display your favorite memories with ease.
Roku Smart Home Essentials: A bundle for connected home entertainment.
NEX Playground: An innovative playground system for kids to learn and play.
Meural Canvas II: A digital art frame to showcase beautiful artwork.
FastFoto FF-680W: A photo scanner for preserving memories.
Nanit 5-Year Plan Bundle: A bundle to monitor your baby's sleep and well-being.

These gadgets are sure to bring joy and functionality to any home. From enhancing daily routines to keeping families safe, there's a clever gadget for everyone on your holiday shopping list.

3. Personalized Gifts

Personalized gifts are becoming one of the top trends for Christmas gift ideas this season. Valued at USD 28.01 billion in 2023, the personalized gifts market is on track for significant growth, expected to reach USD 50.75 billion by 2032.

This trend is fueled by an increasing demand for customized and unique presents that reflect personal interests. As we approach the holidays, more people are shifting from traditional gifts to personalized ones, whether a custom piece of jewelry, a monogrammed item, or a tailored experience like 3D-printed gifts.

This rise in demand can be attributed to the growing role of digitalization and technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), which make it easier to personalize gifts at scale. Additionally, the increased popularity of gift exchanges and celebrations, combined with heightened awareness of giving handmade and meaningful presents, makes personalized gifts a perfect way to make Christmas more special. Despite challenges like higher costs and limited distribution networks in some regions, the trend is expected to continue.

4. Wellness and Self-Care Products

For the frequent flyer, self-care isn’t just about skincare or vitamins—it’s about the products they carry with them and the comforts they return to after their travels. This Christmas, why not gift something to help them stay refreshed, relaxed, and rejuvenated during their journeys? Whether fighting jet lag, staying energized, or simply relaxing after a long flight, these top 10 holiday gifts will make their travels much more enjoyable.

The Organic Skin Co. Travel Pack
A TSA-friendly set with cleanser, face oil, and moisturizer to combat dryness, fatigue, and skin damage during long flights. ($85)
Co-Pilot All-In-One Travel Supplement
A plant-based supplement designed to boost immunity and energy and manage stress is perfect for staying healthy while on the go.
FACTORFIVE Mini Face Creams
Anti-aging creams and serums in travel-sized bottles are ideal for targeting dryness, wrinkles, and sun spots after long hours in the air.
ShiKai Body Care Products
Magnesium-rich body care products that promote relaxation and recovery after travel are available in convenient travel sizes.
Harry’s Full Skin Care Suite
A complete skincare kit featuring face lotion and a cooling eye kit to hydrate and reduce puffiness after flights, perfect for the holiday season.
Chirp Powered Rolling Massager
A portable, adjustable massager that helps relieve sore muscles and tension—ideal for post-flight relaxation or recovery after a long day of travel.
OneSkin Holiday Bundle
A luxurious all-in-one skin care kit with face, eye, and body creams designed to reduce aging signs and dryness, making it a thoughtful gift for anyone on the go. ($99)
MitoPRO Mobile Red Light Therapy
A compact red light therapy device that promotes muscle recovery, better skin, and improved sleep, ideal for travelers needing a rejuvenating boost.
Kizik Slip-On Tennis Shoes
Stylish, slip-on shoes that are TSA-friendly and easy to wear, combining comfort and convenience for travelers this Christmas. ($119)
NEOCUTIS Holiday Travel Jet Lag Creams
A set of anti-aging creams that tackle jet lag and help keep skin refreshed during long-haul flights, perfect for frequent travelers this festive season.

Source: Forbes

This Christmas, show your loved ones how much you care by giving them the gift of travel comfort and self-care. From skincare essentials to wellness supplements, these thoughtful presents are sure to make their journeys more enjoyable and stress-free. Give the gift of relaxation and rejuvenation this holiday season, and let your loved ones travel in style and comfort.

5. Pet Accessories and Treats

Pets are taking center stage in American celebrations. With two-thirds of households owning a pet, it’s no surprise that these beloved companions are treated to special gifts, festive outfits, and memorable moments. SoFi's survey of 1,200 pet owners reveals that holiday spending on pets continues to rise, reflecting their growing role in family traditions. From pet gifts to holiday photos.

Here's a closer look at the products and practices that make the season bright for pets and their owners:

Holiday Pet Gifts – 70% of pet owners buy gifts for their pets.
Holiday Photos – 58% include pets in holiday photos.
Personalized Holiday Decor – 47% use decorations like stockings or ornaments for their pets.
Special Holiday Meals – 45% prepare special meals for their pets.
Holiday Attire – 40% dress up their pets in festive outfits like sweaters and hats.
Taste-Testing Holiday Food – 40% allow their pets to taste-test holiday meals.
Holiday Events – 30% take their pets to holiday events.
Holiday Treats – 28% bake special treats for their pets.
Holiday Sweaters – 71% buy holiday sweaters for their pets.
Holiday Collars/Harnesses – 61% use holiday-themed collars or harnesses.
Holiday Hats – 59% put hats like Santa hats or antlers on their pets.
Cold-Weather Gear – 47% buy snow jackets or boots for their pets.
Matching Pajamas – 35% purchase matching pajamas for themselves and their pets.

This holiday season, pets are more than just companions—they’re integral members of the family. As pet owners splurge on gifts, treats, and festive attire, it’s clear that pets bring joy and warmth to the holidays. Whether it’s pampering them with personalized gifts or including them in family photos, pet owners are going the extra mile to ensure their furry friends have a merry holiday. With the trend of growing pet spending, it’s evident that the bond between people and their pets is only getting stronger.

6. Gaming and Entertainment

Video games and eSports have become mainstream entertainment for all age groups. Beyond entertainment, gaming serves as a way for players to connect remotely and socialize online. With a wide variety of options, from casual games to AAA blockbusters, the gaming industry has become a billion-dollar global market. Gamers can choose from multiple systems, including PCs and popular consoles like the Sony PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and Microsoft Xbox. However, mobile games hold the largest share of the market.

Most Popular Video Game-Related Christmas Gift Requests (US, October 2024)

Gaming consoles, VR headsets, and board games remain top gift choices, especially among families and younger demographics.

Source: Statista

Stay Ahead, Get Ahead This Christmas with PriceMole!

The holiday season is the ultimate test for eCommerce businesses, where success hinges on staying competitive and making smarter pricing decisions. To thrive during this high-demand period, you need tools that simplify pricing strategies, provide actionable insights, and give you an edge over the competition. That’s where PriceMole comes in—a powerful solution designed to help you monitor competitors, implement dynamic pricing, and make data-driven decisions with ease.

With PriceMole’s real-time competitor monitoring, you can stay one step ahead by tracking your rivals’ pricing strategies and holiday discounts as they happen. Armed with these insights, you can react instantly to ensure your offerings are always competitive and appealing to deal-seeking shoppers.

PriceMole Dynamic pricing automation takes the guesswork out of price adjustments, allowing you to set rules that adapt to market demand, inventory levels, and competitor actions. Whether matching a flash sale or leveraging a surge in holiday demand, PriceMole ensures your prices are constantly optimized for maximum profitability.

And here’s the cherry on top: PriceMole’s competitor comparison widget. This powerful feature consolidates all competitors’ pricing data into a single, easy-to-read dashboard. With a quick glance, you can identify opportunities, refine your strategy, and outprice your competition during the year's busiest shopping season.

Summary

Christmas 2024 is a golden opportunity for eCommerce platforms to drive sales and build customer loyalty. By understanding the top gift trends and utilizing tools like PriceMole for competitor monitoring and dynamic pricing, Shopify and Shopify Plus users can offer compelling deals, stay ahead of the competition, and maximize their profitability during this festive season.

Ready to elevate your holiday sales this Christmas? Start implementing these strategies today and watch your eCommerce platform thrive!

We’d love to hear from you this festive season. Whether you have questions or insights, connect with us through our Website, Shopify, BigCommerce, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Your success is our priority, and we’re here to support you every step of the way. Let’s work together to sparkle your online venture this holiday season and beyond!