Footage of cargo ships parked in the Pacific Ocean, waiting for dock space to unload containers filled with consumer goods has become a staple on nightly network news.

So its no surprise that shoppers are concerned about fulfilling their holiday gift lists before Santa makes his rounds.

Product shortages and related price increases are among consumers top concerns this year, prompting early gift shopping, according to recent surveys.

Blue Dots second annual Holiday Habits survey of 1,000 consumers found that 80% expect merchandise shortages to affect their shopping, with 86% worried about supply chain issues, a lack of merchandise and labor shortages.

Specifically, consumers top concerns center on four issues:

• Inventory shortages or limited supplies, 60%.
• Price increases, 59%.
• Empty shelves, 43%.
• Long lines or wait times, 40%.

As a result of these problems, consumers expect to shop online more, seek alternative items, shop in stores earlier or purchase more experiences or gift cards.

More consumers expect to shop earlier

RetailMeNot, which released its survey results in September, said the majority of consumers start their holiday shopping before Thanksgiving—and have done so for years.

Of its 1,082 respondents, 37% started before or during September. Another 22% said they expected to start in October, while 24% said they would start in November, but before Thanksgiving.

It seems, though, that consumers are more anxious to start earlier:

• 30% said they are starting earlier than they did in 2020.
• 66% want to finish their shopping as early as possible.

A survey by Channel Factory, which is an advertising performance platform for YouTube, found that 43% of its 1,085 respondents said they would start shopping in October.

ICSC, formerly the International Council of Shopping Centers, reported that retail sales beat expectations in August, which could be a result of holiday shopping.

Tom McGee, president and CEO of ICSC, told MediaPost via email, “While Septembers retail sales are yet to be released, our recent consumer survey found that 65% of respondents are now visiting physical stores for non-essential goods, compared to just 54% two weeks prior.

"Our survey found that, of those who plan to start shopping earlier, 42% will do so to take advantage of early deals and promotions."

Among respondents to ICSCs consumer survey, 75% said they would start shopping earlier; 45% of those said they were doing so to make sure they found specific products.

online shopping likely to increase

Blue Dots survey found that 45% of consumers expect to shop more on the internet and 31% plan to use mobile apps.

Consistent with the 2020 survey results, consumers plan to use mobile apps for the convenience:

• 57% responded that apps are fast and easy to use.
• 38% said they cant find items in stores.
• 27% use apps to check in-store inventory.
• 25% earn or redeem loyalty points through apps.

Another 32% of respondents expect to use social media platforms to purchase holiday gifts this year. Not surprisingly, 42% of Gen Z consumers are likely to shop this way—more than any other generation.

Channel Factorys results show an even higher percentage, 69%, of respondents plan to shop online, with 59% planning to use mobile apps.

RetailMeNots results differ, however. Although 56% of respondents in 2020 said they would shop primarily online, 51% of this years shoppers say theyll shop online, while 49% expect to shop in stores.

Supply issues could affect online shopping as well, according to Adobes holiday shopping forecast. The company expects online sales between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31 to increase 10% to $207 billion, a new record.

However, the cargo delays previously mentioned, on top of disruptions in overseas manufacturing, could be problematic. A principal analyst and vice president at Forrester, Dipanjan Chatterjee, says he expects prices to rise as a result.

Consumers could pay 9% more during Cyber Week this year, compared with 2020, according to Adobe.

ICSC predicts a 13% increase in online shopping.