Retailer ‘Accountability’ Is ‘Name of the Game’ for Holidays: Oracle

Consumers worry that supply chain bottlenecks and delivery delays “will wreak havoc on the holidays,” and are responding by planning to shop earlier than usual, reported Oracle Tuesday. The company canvassed more than 5,700 consumers globally in September, including about 500 in the U.S., finding 52% of Americans had already started holiday shopping. Gift cards are an especially hot item this year as a hedge against supply chain woes. About a third of the respondents planned to buy more gift cards than usual this year, including nearly six in 10 baby boomers, said Oracle. Other survey findings: (1) 40% agree that out-of-stock items “constitute a lousy shopping experience”; (2) 38% will be attracted to brands or companies this year based on product availability; (3) about one in five won't wait for a retailer to restock before going somewhere else. Though supply chain challenges will be a “global reality” this holiday, consumers “will still measure retailers on their ability to deliver on their wish lists,” said Mike Webster, Oracle Retail senior vice president-general manager. "Accountability will be the name of the game.”