eBay sets eyes on Thanksgiving day to launch mobile commerce campaign

Online retail giant eBay is gearing up for the coming 2012 holiday season by appealing to mobile consumers. The retailer has long been attuned to the wants of consumers with mobile devices and their interest in mobile commerce. eBay is preparing to launch an ambitious and massive campaign to kick start the holiday season by offering mobile consumers a huge number of deals and discounts for products they may be interested in. The retailer plans to launch this campaign just as consumers finish dinner on Thanksgiving day.

Retailer unwilling to wait for Black Friday to begin offering deals

Typically, retailers wait until the day after Thanksgiving to launch major savings and deals. This day, commonly known as Black Friday, is the most important day for the retail industry, as the business they do in that 24-hour period can generally make or break a sales year. A new national survey from Edelman Berland shows that the majority of American consumers finish their Thanksgiving dinner at 5:23 p.m. Eastern time. Instead of waiting for the following day to launch Black Friday, eBay will be launching its campaign just as consumers finish their dinner.

Early start may net eBay success

The retailer will be offering a massive number of deals for mobile consumers, hoping to entice these consumers to participate in mobile commerce. Using the eBay mobile application, as well as other platforms, consumers will be able to make purchases directly from the retailer, as well as its auction branch. eBay expects to find major success with this campaign as it will be one of the few, if not the only, retailer to begin the holiday retail season so early.

Retail industry poised to take advantage of popularity of mobile commerce

eBay will not be the only retailer looking to engage mobile consumers. Others in the industry have taken note of the growing popularity surrounding mobile commerce and have begun looking for ways to engage people. This holiday season may prove just how popular and effective mobile commerce can be for those that are still on the fence concerning the issue or those considering it to be a passing fad.

Deloitte, a professional services and consulting firm, has released the results a new survey concerning mobile commerce and the 2012 holiday season. Mobile commerce has been growing in popularity amongst consumers who are deeply involved in mobile technology. More consumers around the world are beginning to rely on their smart phones and tablets for more than just connectivity with friends, family, and the Internet. These consumers are turning to the mobile devices to make purchases for goods, a trend that retailers are beginning to respond to.

Survey predicts mobile consumers will have a large role to play during holiday season

According to the Deloitte survey, more than half the consumers that own and use a smart phone regularly are expected to use these devices for their holiday shopping this year. More than 5,000 consumers were surveyed by Deloitte over a 10-day period. The survey found that mobile commerce is, indeed, becoming a major part of the life of consumers, especially those that rely on their mobile device for a wide variety of services.

Majority of mobile consumers willing to spend more money

The survey predicts that 62% of shoppers using their mobile devices will do so at physical store locations. Approximately 58% of consumers will use their mobile devices to compare prices or look for more information on products. While this may be becoming a more common aspect of the retail industry, mobile commerce has significant economic implications that may be great news for this industry. According to Deloitte, 72% of mobile consumers are expected to pay more overall during their shopping than consumers that do not participate in mobile commerce. Each of these consumers is expected to spend more than $1,400 during the holiday season.

Mobile commerce expected to impact future holiday seasons

Mobile commerce is expected to translate into major gains for the retail industry, and especially for companies that are putting a strong focus on appealing to mobile consumers. The trend is expected to grow in the coming years, according to Deloitte, with the 2013 holiday season likely to see higher engagement throughout mobile commerce platforms than in previous years.