[CLICK HERE for Multichannel Merchant’s Cyber Weekend 2013 coverage]
The Holiday 2013 shopping season kicks off on Nov. 29 with Black Friday kicks off on Nov. 28 with Thanksgiving Day has already kicked off, even though Cyber Weekend has yet to hit. The National Retail Federation, for example, reports that 53.8% of shoppers say they already started holiday shopping in October – the highest number ever recorded in its holiday consumer spending survey. Whether you sell hot toys like Tickle Me Elmo Big Hugs Elmo or hot electronics like the Wii the iPad mini, or anything else, here are the 12 Trends of Christmas you need to know for the Holiday 2013 shopping season.
Will Thanksgivukkah Affect Holiday Sales?
Hanukkah begins the day before Thanksgiving, 11 days earlier than in 2012. While an early Hanukkah will not affect overall holiday sales, it will shift the time some retailers anticipate traffic increases. As a result, ShopperTrak expects promotions will begin as early as the day after Halloween – the very start of the holiday season. [Click the page numbers or arrows to see the 11 other trends] 
