E-commerce is fostering smarter shopping
habits, with 78 per cent of holiday shoppers expecting to spend the
same or more this holiday season compared to last year.
MISSISSAUGA, ON, Nov. 9, 2022
/CNW/ - With online shopping continuing to be a significant part of
many Canadians' holiday preparations, e-commerce has empowered
consumers with the tools to navigate a busy shopping season without
having to necessarily tighten their purse strings. In fact, new
data from this year's annual FedEx Express Holiday Shopping Survey
reveals that a whopping 78 per cent of Canadian holiday shoppers
expect to spend the same or more this holiday season compared to
last year.
"Canadians are gearing up for a busy holiday season by being
smarter online shoppers, leveraging digital solutions that empower
them to take ownership of their shopping experience," said
Lisa Lisson, president of FedEx
Express Canada. "Like every holiday season at FedEx, we're ready to
deliver on Canadians' shipping needs, so they can focus on what
matters most."
Commissioned by FedEx Express Canada, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp
(NYSE: FDX), and conducted by Angus
Reid, the survey sheds light on Canadian consumers' shopping
intentions for this upcoming holiday season, their level of concern
around affordability and steps they are taking to shop smarter
amidst external financial pressures.
This year's key survey highlights illustrate Canadians'
commitment to a good bargain, how cost is driving consumer
decision-making, and how Canadians are combating package theft.
Key insights include:
- Canadians intend to spend. Most Canadians are not
letting rising costs affect their spending plans, as 78 per cent of
those who plan to do holiday shopping expect to spend about the
same amount or more as last year this holiday season.
- Shopping with intention. While Canadians don't intend to
change their spending plans, many are shopping with forethought and
looking for the best deals to maximize spending. Nearly
three-in-five holiday shoppers plan to buy gifts during major
retail events this year, with Black Friday topping the list at 44
per cent.
- Canadians are early shoppers. Fifty-nine per cent of
holiday shoppers intend to finish shopping by early December.
- Financial stress lingers. Economic pressures are still
in the back of Canadians' minds – 87 per cent of holiday shoppers
feel that inflation and increasing prices will likely put more
pressure on their holiday budget this season.
- Online tools combat package theft fears. Sixty-nine per
cent of online shoppers are at least somewhat worried about package
theft, an 8-point increase from last year. To combat these fears,
digital tools are becoming more important. As such, 43 per cent of
online shoppers rank the ability to track their packages as the
single-most important feature.
Canadians rely on FedEx more than
ever before
Driven by the dramatic changes in online shopping and the
growing prevalence of e-commerce, FedEx Express Canada has
responded with a series of investments and service enhancements to
ensure Canadians can rely on an outstanding experience, especially
during this critical time of year.
Since June 2020, FedEx Express
Canada has increased its workforce from 7,100 to over 13,335
Canadians. The company has expanded to 69 operating facilities with
the addition of nearly 300,000 square feet of new sort capacity
space in key markets across Canada
and added an additional Boeing 757 and three ATR-72s to its
domestic fleet.
A number of offerings and enhancements uniquely position FedEx
and its Canadian customers for a successful, stress-free holiday
season. Highlights include:
- Picture Proof of Delivery: Just in time for the
holiday's, customers and package recipients of residential
driver-released deliveries will receive visual confirmation that
their holiday shipments have arrived, delivering extra peace of
mind. This service is applied to residential, non-signature package
deliveries without requiring an account or login from the carrier
or merchant.
- Expanded Delivery Operations: In various markets across
the country, FedEx has expanded hours of operations for residential
deliveries.
"With delivery features ranging from package scheduling to
package tracking, FedEx is committed to empowering Canadians so
that they can feel confident and rest easy knowing their holiday
purchases will arrive safely and on time," said Lisson.
About the Survey
The survey was conducted with a representative sample of
1,525 online Canadians who are members of the Angus Reid Forum. The
sample was balanced on age, gender, region and education to Census
Canada. The interviews were conducted in English and French. The
precision of Angus Reid Forum online polls is measured using a
credibility interval. In this case, the poll is accurate to within
+/- 2.4 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, had all Canadians
been polled. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other
sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error, and
measurement error.
About FedEx Corp.
FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses
worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and
business services. With annual revenue of $95
billion, the company offers integrated business solutions
through operating companies competing collectively, operating
collaboratively and innovating digitally under the respected FedEx
brand. Consistently ranked among the world's most admired and
trusted employers, FedEx inspires its nearly 550,000
employees to remain focused on safety, the highest ethical and
professional standards and the needs of their customers and
communities. FedEx is committed to connecting people and
possibilities around the world responsibly and resourcefully, with
a goal to achieve carbon-neutral operations by 2040. To learn more,
please visit fedex.com/about.
SOURCE Federal Express Canada Corporation