Retail Occasions Series - United Kingdom (UK) Christmas 2023

The UK Christmas 2023 report forms part of GlobalData's Retail Occasions series, and offers a comprehensive insight into the consumer dynamics and spending habits of consumers for Christmas. The report analyses the market, the major players, the main trends, and consumer attitudes.

The proportion of consumers shopping for Christmas increased this year. Shoppers continued to spend on retail, but leisure popularity waned as consumers prioritized dining in at home and gift giving. A third of consumers stated that they started Christmas shopping earlier this year compared to last year, many doing so to spread the cost of the occasion. Spreading the cost allowed consumers to feel better prepared for Christmas this year, therefore putting themselves in a better position to buy what they want.

Scope

Shoppers continued to spend on retail, with almost 90% of consumers stating that they bought something for this occasion in 2023. However, leisure popularity waned, as consumers prioritized dining in at home and gift giving.

Consumers continue to focus on value for money and price, enabling discounters to outperform at Christmas 2023

The proportion of UK shoppers purchasing online over the Christmas period was down across all categories in 2023, with festive items witnessing the biggest decrease. Shoppers instead favoured physical locations such as retail parks, convenience stores, and out of town shopping centres, as they prioritize sensory instore experiences post-pandemic.

Reasons to Buy

Find out what categories consumers prioritised and cut back on for Christmas 2023.

Understand what drives consumers to use a retailer for their purchases, such as convenience, value for money and delivery options in order to maximise sales potential.

Discover how competitor retailers faired across various Christmas categories in 2023, to discover areas of strengths and of improvements across Christmas ranges.

THE KEY FINDINGS

Chart of the month
Financial concerns outweigh sustainability as budgets tighten
The key findings
Christmas participation holds steady despite inflationary pressure weighing down consumer finances
Marks & Spencer and the discounters outperform at Christmas as consumers continue to focus on quality and value
Online penetration was down this Christmas, as shoppers continue to favour the experiential aspect of shopping instore
Trend insight - stores
Trend insight - online

CONSUMER ATTITUDES

Buying dynamics
Financial wellbeing
Christmas spending
Financial spending
Christmas statements
Retailer selection
Retailer ratings - grocers
Retailer ratings - non-food retailers
Christmas stockings
Secret Santa
Christmas returns
Retailer drivers by category
Seasonal food and drink
Buying dynamics (Food & drink overall)
Retailer selection
Channel usage
Store type
Device usage
Fulfilment
Spending
Buying dynamics (Categories)
Planned/impulse
Gifts
Buying dynamics (Gifts overall)
Retailer selection
Channel usage
Store type
Device usage
Fulfilment
Average spend
Recipient
Buying dynamics (Categories)
Planned/impulse
Personalisation
Secondhand gifts
Gifts purchased seen/promoted on social media
Regifting
Festive items
Buying dynamics (Festive items overall)
Retailer selection
Channel usage
Store type
Device usage
Fulfilment
Average spend
Buying dynamics (Categories)
Planned/impulse
Personalisation
Items for the home
Buying dynamics (Items for the home overall)
Retailer selection
Channel usage
Store type
Device usage
Fulfilment
Buying dynamics (Categories)
Planned/impulse
Methodology
Technical details: consumer survey work

List of Tables

Retailer ratings across key measures - grocers, 2023
Retailer ratings across key measures - non-food retailers, 2023
Christmas gift categories consumers plan to return, 2022 & 2023
Percentage point change retailer shopped at for seasonal food & drink (2022-2023)
Percentage point change retailer most shopped at for seasonal food & drink (2022-2023)
Percentage point change retailer consumers switched to for seasonal food & drink (2022-2023)
Products purchased - Christmas sweet products, 2022 & 2023
Products purchased - Christmas savoury products, 2022 & 2023
Products purchased - meat, fish and free from alternatives, 2022 and 2023
Products purchased - fruit & vegetables, 2022 & 2023
Products purchased - alcoholic beverages, 2022 & 2023
Products purchased - non-alcoholic beverages, 2023
Products bought on impulse - seasonal food & drink, 2022 & 2023
Percentage point change retailer shopped at for gifts (2022-2023)
Products purchased - clothing & accessories, 2022 & 2023
Retailers used - clothing & accessories, 2022 & 2023
Products purchased - food gifts, 2022 & 2023
Retailers used - food gifts, 2022 & 2023
Products purchased - health & beauty, 2022 & 2023
Retailers used - health & beauty, 2022 & 2023
Products purchased - alcohol gifts, 2022 & 2023
Retailers used - alcohol gifts, 2022 & 2023
Products purchased - toys & games, 2022 & 2023
Retailers used - toys & games, 2022 & 2023
Products purchased - books, 2022 & 2023
Retailers used - books, 2022 & 2023
Products purchased - footwear, 2022 & 2023
Retailers used - footwear, 2022 & 2023
Products purchased - homewares, 2022 & 2023
Retailers used - homewares, 2022 & 2023
Products purchased - money, 2022 & 2023
Products purchased - stationery, 2022 & 2023
Retailers used - stationery, 2022 & 2023
Products purchased - vouchers & gift cards, 2022 & 2023
Products purchased - electricals, 2022 & 2023
Retailers used - electricals, 2022 & 2023
Products purchased - music & video, 2022 & 2023
Retailers used - music & video, 2022 & 2023
Products purchased - experiences, 2022 & 2023
Products purchased - leather goods, 2022 & 2023
Retailers used - leather goods, 2022 & 2023
Products purchased - sports, 2022 & 2023
Retailers used - sports, 2022 & 2023
Products purchased - fine jewellery and watches, 2022 & 2023
Retailers used - fine jewellery and watches, 2022 & 2023
Products purchased - garden items, 2022 & 2023
Retailers used - garden items, 2022 & 2023
Products purchased - computers, 2022 & 2023
Retailers used - computers, 2022 & 2023
Products purchased - DIY, 2022 & 2023
Retailers used - DIY, 2022 & 2023
Products purchased - secondhand gifts, 2022 & 2023
Social media platforms used, 2022 & 2023
Products purchased - regifting, 2023
Products bought on impulse - gifts, 2022 & 2023
Products personalisation - gifts, 2022 & 2023
Percentage point change retailer shopped at for festive items (2022-2023)
Products purchased - Christmas wrapping & cards, 2022 & 2023
Retailers used - Christmas wrapping & cards, 2022 & 2023
Products purchased - Christmas trees & decorations, 2022 & 2023
Retailers used - Christmas trees & decorations, 2022 & 2023
Products purchased - festive home products, 2022 & 2023
Retailers used - festive home products, 2022 & 2023
Retailers used - Christmas crackers, 2022 & 2023
Retailers used - Christmas advent calendar, 2022 & 2023
Products purchased - Christmas partywear, 2022 & 2023
Retailers used - Christmas partywear, 2022 & 2023
Products bought on impulse - festive items, 2022 & 2023
Products personalisation - festive items, 2022 & 2023
Percentage point change retailer shopped at for items for the home (2022-2023)
Products purchased - electricals, 2022 & 2023
Retailers used - electricals, 2022 & 2023
Products purchased - homewares, 2022 & 2023
Retailers used - homewares, 2022 & 2023
Products purchased - furniture, 2022 & 2023
Retailers used - furniture, 2022 & 2023
Products bought on impulse - items for the home, 2022 & 2023

List of Figures

Agreement and disagreement with the statement "Sustainability is a greater concern for me this Christmas and I am making changes to be more conscious of the environment", total and by age, in 2023
Christmas 2023 shopper penetration (by demographic and by region) & 2021, 2022 penetration
Christmas shopper profile (by demographic & by region), 2023
Christmas 2023 retail shopper penetration (by demographic and by region)
Christmas 2023 leisure shopper penetration (by demographic and by region)
When consumers started their Christmas shopping, 2023
Did consumers start their Christmas shopping earlier this year (by answer & age), 2023
Reasons why consumers started Christmas shopping earlier, 2022 and 2023
Financial wellbeing compared to last year, 2022 & 2023
Consumers' Christmas spending compared to last year, 2022 & 2023
How consumers' Christmas spending changed due to the cost-of-living crisis, 2022 and 2023
Priorities in different categories for Christmas spend, 2023
How consumers financed Christmas spending, 2022 & 2023
Agreement statements about Christmas, 2023 and ppt change on 2022
Success of retailers at promoting or communicating Christmas deals, 2023
Christmas stockings received penetration 2023 (by demographic and by region) & 2021, 2022 penetration
Christmas stockings given penetration 2023 (by demographic and by region) & 2021, 2022 penetration
Christmas stockings average spend, 2022 & 2023
Christmas stockings bought, 2022 & 2023
Secret Santa penetration 2023 (by demographic and by region) & 2021, 2022 penetration
Secret Santa budget, 2022 & 2023
Secret Santa bought for, 2022 & 2023
Secret Santa budget spending patterns, 2022 & 2023
Why consumers are taking part in a family Secret Santa this year, 2023
Do consumers often take part in a family Secret Santa, 2023
Christmas returns penetration 2023 (by demographic and by region) & 2021, 2022 penetration
Number of Christmas returns 2023 (by demographic) & 2021, 2022 overall
Reasons for returning Christmas presents, 2023 and ppt change on 2022
What's driving retailer selection - summary, 2023
Overall food and drink penetration 2023 (by demographic) & 2021, 2022 penetration
Retailers shopped at for seasonal food and drink, 2022 & 2023
Retailers most shopped at for seasonal food and drink, 2022 & 2023
Drivers of food & drink retailer selection, 2023 and ppt change on 2022
Consumers switching from their usual main retailer, 2023 by demographic & 2021, 2022 overall
Top 10 retailers consumers switched to, 2022 & 2023
Reasons for switching main retailer, 2023 and ppt change on 2022
Consumers using each channel for purchasing seasonal food and drink, 2022 & 2023
Consumers using each store type for purchasing seasonal food and drink, 2022 & 2023
Consumers using each device for seasonal food and drink purchases, 2022 & 2023
Fulfilment options for seasonal food and drink purchases made online, 2022 & 2023
Average spend on seasonal food and non-alcoholic beverages by retailer, 2023 and £ change on 2022
Average spend on seasonal alcoholic beverages by retailer, 2023 and £ change on 2022
Christmas sweet products 2023 (by demographic) & 2021, 2022 penetration
Christmas savoury products 2023 (by demographic) & 2021, 2022 penetration
Meat, fish and free from alternatives 2023 (by demographic) & 2021, 2022 penetration
Fruit & vegetables 2023 (by demographic) & 2021, 2022 penetration
Alcoholic beverages 2023 (by demographic) & 2021, 2022 penetration
Non-alcoholic beverages 2023 (by demographic) & 2021, 2022 penetration
Overall seasonal food & drink planned/impulse purchases, 2023
Overall gift penetration 2023 (by demographic) & 2021, 2022 penetration
Retailers shopped at for gifts, 2022 & 2023
Drivers of gifts retailer selection, 2023 & ppt change on 2022
Consumers using each channel for purchasing Christmas gifts, 2022 & 2023
Consumers using store type for purchasing Christmas gifts, 2022 & 2023
Consumers using each device for Christmas gift shopping purchases, 2022 & 2023
Fulfilment options for Christmas gift purchases made online, 2022 & 2023
How consumers gave presents, 2022 & 2023
Average spend on Christmas gifts by product category, 2023 and £ change on 2022
Who consumers bought Christmas gifts for, 2023 and ppt change on 2022
Clothing & accessories penetration 2023 (by demographic) & 2021, 2022 penetration
Food gifts penetration 2023 (by demographic) & 2021, 2022 penetration
Health & beauty penetration 2023 (by demographic) & 2021, 2022 penetration
Alcohol gifts penetration 2023 (by demographic) & 2021, 2022 penetration
Books penetration 2023 (by demographic) & 2021, 2022 penetration
Toys & games penetration 2023 (by demographic) & 2021, 2022 penetration
Views regarding gifting plastic toys, 2022 & 2023
Footwear penetration 2023 (by demographic) & 2021, 2022 penetration
Homewares penetration 2023 (by demographic) & 2021, 2022 penetration
Money penetration 2023 (by demographic) & 2021, 2022 penetration
Voucher & gift cards penetration 2023 (by demographic) & 2021, 2022 penetration
Stationery penetration 2023 (by demographic) & 2021, 2022 penetration
Electricals penetration 2023 (by demographic) & 2021, 2022 penetration
Music & video penetration 2023 (by demographic) & 2021, 2022 penetration
Leather goods penetration 2023 (by demographic) & 2021, 2022 penetration
Computers penetration 2023 (by demographic) & 2021, 2022 penetration
Experiences penetration 2023 (by demographic) & 2021, 2022 penetration
Sports penetration 2023 (by demographic) & 2021, 2022 penetration
Fine jewellery & watches penetration 2023 (by demographic) & 2021, 2022 penetration
Garden items penetration 2023 (by demographic) & 2021, 2022 penetration
DIY penetration 2023 (by demographic) & 2021, 2022 penetration
Overall gift planned/impulse purchases, 2023
Overall gift personalisation, 2023
Secondhand gifts penetration 2023 (by demographic) & 2022 penetration
Channel usage for secondhand gift purchasing, 2022 & 2023
Reasons for purchasing/not purchasing secondhand gifts, 2023 and ppt change on 2022
Gifts purchased seen/promoted on social media penetration 2023 (by demographic) & 2021, 2022 penetration
Regifting penetrations 2023 (by demographic) & 2022 penetration
Reasons for regifting, 2023 and ppt change on 2022
Who consumers regifted to, 2023 and ppt change on 2022
Overall festive items penetration 2023 (by demographic) & 2021, 2022 penetration
Retailers shopped at for festive items, 2022 & 2023
Drivers of retailer selection for festive items, 2023 and ppt change on 2022
Consumers using each channel for festive item purchases, 2022 & 2023
Consumers using each store type for festive item purchases, 2022 & 2023
Consumers using each device for festive item purchases, 2022 & 2023
Fulfilment options for festive item purchases made online, 2022 & 2023
Average spend on festive items, 2023 and £ change on 2022
Christmas wrapping & cards penetration 2023 (by demographic) & 2021, 2022 penetration
Types of gift bags purchased, 2022 & 2023
Christmas trees and decorations penetration 2023 (by demographic) & 2021, 2022 penetration
Christmas tree purchasing dynamics, by real & artificial trees, 2023
Artificial Christmas tree replacement by number of years
Bulb count on Christmas lights purchased by internal & external, 2023
Bulb colour of Christmas lights purchased by internal & external, 2023
Festive home products penetration 2023 (by demographic) & 2021, 2022 penetration
Colour scheme chosen for festive home products, 2022, 2023
Christmas crackers penetration 2023 (by demographic) & 2021, 2022 penetration
Consumers filling in Christmas crackers themselves, 2022, 2023
Consumers' opinion on whether retailers should stop including plastic toys in crackers, 2022, 2023
Christmas advent calendar penetration 2023 (by demographic) & 2021, 2022 penetration
Christmas advent calendar bought for, 2022 & 2023
Types of products included in Christmas advent calendars, 2022 & 2023
Christmas partywear penetration 2023 (by demographic) & 2021, 2022 penetration
Overall festive items planned/impulse purchases, 2023
Overall festive items personalisation, 2023
Overall items for the home penetration 2023 (by demographic) & 2021, 2022 penetration
Retailers shopped at for items for the home, 2022 & 2023
Drivers of items for the home retailer selection, 2023 and ppt change from 2022
Consumers using each channel for items for the home, 2022 & 2023
Consumers using each store type for items for the home, 2022 & 2023
Consumers using each device for items for the home, 2022 & 2023
Consumers using each fulfilment option for items for the home, 2022 & 2023
Average spend on items for the home by category, 2023 and £ change from 2022
Electricals penetration 2023 (by demographic) & 2021, 2022 penetration
Homewares penetration 2023 (by demographic) & 2021, 2022 penetration
Furniture penetration 2023 (by demographic) & 2021, 2022 penetration
Overall items for the home planned/impulse purchases, 2023

Retail Occasions Series - United Kingdom (UK) Christmas 2023

Description

Table of Contents

List of Tables

Abstract

Scope

Reasons to Buy

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

THE KEY FINDINGS

CONSUMER ATTITUDES

List of Tables

List of Tables

List of Figures

List of Figures