Hot categories and trends of US e-commerce in 2023! Q1 promotion calendar included

It is learned that recently, Connexity and Skimlinks released forecasts for the US e-commerce market in 2023, including industry changes, fast-growing categories, and major promotional festivals that sellers need to pay attention to, providing a reference for sellers to formulate new year strategies.

E-commerce sales continue to grow, but are plateauing

In 2023, U.S. e-commerce sales will continue to grow, but at a slower pace than during the pandemic. The latest data shows that the U.S. e-commerce market has exceeded one trillion for the first time.

However, this will only account for 9.4% of US retail sales in 2022, the lowest growth rate since 2009. This is mainly due to inflation and supply chain issues slowing e-commerce purchases. Although shipping congestion should improve in March 2023, eMarketer expects US e-commerce sales to stabilize by 2026, when they will finally return to pre-pandemic levels.

Mobile e-commerce and second-hand e-commerce continue to be important driving forces

Mobile commerce will continue to be a major driver of US commerce, accounting for 40% of total retail sales and more than 61% of online shopping orders in 2023. That’s why it’s so important for advertisers to optimize for mobile devices and offer mobile-friendly payment methods like Apple Pay and Google Pay.

As sustainability and affordability become consumer priorities, consumers will also look to secondhand e-commerce sales: According to Retail TouchPoints, 65% of consumers already use resale or secondhand e-commerce services.

Beyond that, customers will continue to embrace pandemic-driven shopping behaviors like buy online, pickup in-store (BOPIS) and flexible delivery options. In fact, BOPIS is expected to be a $703 billion global market by 2027.

The fastest growing retail categories by 2023

Certain retail categories saw clear growth between the third and fourth quarters of 2022, and they should continue to drive purchases in 2023.

Gifts, Flowers, and Food achieved the largest quarter-over-quarter growth (+325%), driven by record holiday gift spending during Black Friday Cyber ​​Monday. Other categories, including Jewelry & Watches, Toys & Games, and Baby & Kids also saw growth during this time. Top merchants within these verticals included Kohl's, Macy's, Overstock, Wayfair, and Walmart.

First quarter promotion calendar

From January to March, retailers and advertisers need to seize the following key marketing nodes to drive e-commerce purchases and reach customers with relevant content.

February 1-28: Black History Month

Help consumers support black-owned businesses and brands like Ruby, TenWilde, Golde, and PetPlate.

February 12: Super Bowl LIV

Post about where to watch the Super Bowl, what to expect during the halftime show, and how to plan a viewing party.

February 14: Valentine's Day

Get the best gifts for the people who matter most, like flowers, chocolates, and casual apparel from brands like Etsy, Nordstrom, Lululemon, and UncommonGoods.

March 8: International Women’s Day

Generate buzz for women-owned brands like OurPlace, AndieSwim, Aurate, and more.

March 13-19: Sleep Awareness

Content related to bedding, mattresses, loungewear, and sleep aids increases in popularity this time of year. Retailers across the home vertical, such as Parachute, Helix, and Nectar, will launch sales.

https://blog.taboola.com/ecommerce-trends-2023/