As the holiday season approaches and as well as the end of the year, people from all over the nation are preparing to celebrate many different holidays and are most likely going to be purchasing presents for others during this time.

According to bloomberg.com, U.S. holiday sales both online and in stores, from November to December, are expected to increase approximately 8.5-10.5% this year which is equivalent to about $859 billion dollar increase. Online sales alone are expected to have an increase of at least 11-15% equivalent to about $226 billion dollars. 

Experts predict that most holiday sales in 2021 will be made from online retail stores and that these sales will make up about a total of 25.5% of total retail sales. 

“[I am going to purchase] most of my items online, but if I see anything in a store that catches my eye, then I’ll purchase that [as well],” said sophomore Scarlett Fox. “My family is [also] planning on shopping [mostly online as well].”

Many FHS students, similar to Fox, also are planning on spending their holiday shopping online. However, some students want to shop mostly in stores so that they know what they are getting. 

“I hope to shop more in person just because it’s easier to get the gifts on time and I can also see what I’m getting before I buy it rather than waiting to get something that I may not like,” said sophomore Ava Nassiri.

Although shopping for gifts online may have its benefits, it can also cause problems and may not be the most efficient way to purchase holiday gift items.

“There are a lot of negative impacts of purchasing gift items online during the holidays because since so many people are ordering so many different things at the same time, it makes it almost impossible to get all of your purchases on time,” Nassiri said. “[Many times in] previous years, my family’s and I’s packages have been extremely late, and some of them have even arrived after the holidays.”

On top of items not showing up on time, shopping online does not give an accurate depiction as to what is being purchased. The buyer may not end up liking what they purchase because it looks completely different online vs. in person. 

“I hope to shop more in person just because it’s easier to get the gifts on time and I can also see what I’m getting before I buy it rather than waiting to get something that I may not like,” Nassiri said. 

This year alone, the out-of-stock rates are up 172% compared to what they were before the pandemic started. Without certain items in stock, this may cause companies to actually lose money this holiday season and can cause a spiral in the retail industry. 

No matter how students and their families plan on shopping this holiday season, there will be plenty of sales and deals for them to enjoy!