Holiday Shopping: the trends businesses should follow

On the other hand, travelers usually allocate part of their budget, in addition to accommodation expenses and tickets to museums and attractions, to searching for and buying souvenirs and items to take home or give to family and friends. Nowadays, visitors play a key role in the economy and development of tourist areas and represent a market of enormous proportions that offers significant business potential for both small and large companies offering typical and traditional products: according to data provided by Eurostat, in 2021 there were more than 1.8 billion overnight stays in accommodations in the European Union, and this positive trend is likely to continue.

But what are the most popular souvenirs among tourists? What aspects and trends are guiding choices and purchases today? How can small artisans and local businesses enhance their products with solutions that make it even easier for customers to manage the purchases made during their holidays?

The Most Purchased Products During Holidays

For those who fall in love with an object during a trip and dream of displaying it in their own home, the first obstacle that arises is how to get it there. In recent years, habits have changed radically: long trips traditionally taken during holidays or vacation periods have partly given way to, or have been accompanied by, short weekend trips where traveling light is common. This aspect also influences purchases: smaller items are often preferred over bulky or delicate objects that must be carried in a bag or backpack.

However, there is a wide market of typical products and objects that tourists love to buy: encouraging this trend with a shipping service can become a key advantage in closing a sale. Issues related to volume or weight can be easily solved by those who offer a suitable shipping service based on the type of goods. But, what are the most purchased products during holidays? Here is a list of tourists’ favorite items.

Replicas of famous monuments.
Must-haves in the homes of those who have visited Paris or Rome at least once, the Eiffel Tower and the Colosseum are displayed on shelves around the world. Although the trend is to buy small and easily transportable items, some cannot resist the charm of a metal or marble replica of a famous monument: the difficulty of transporting it easily on the return journey often discourages the purchase.

Vases and terracotta.
Many countries have an interesting and unique hand-decorated ceramic production that arouses tourists’ curiosity and the desire to take home valuable souvenirs capable of recalling the atmosphere and charm of a region, town, or city of art. However, even perfectly packed items can be bulky and create problems for travelers.

Wood and metal objects.
Among the objects that most fascinate travelers are those made of wood and metal: replicas of medieval weapons, armor, helmets, as well as religious symbols and traditional musical instruments such as drums, are some of the most popular souvenirs.

Copies of works of art.
The market for art object reproductions has ancient origins and does not seem to suffer during economic crises. Of course, packaging and precautions must go beyond standard requirements to ensure the integrity of the purchased item. A shipping service that takes into account the value of these objects and delivers them safely could be the right solution to offer customers.

Traditional clothing.
Traditional clothing is one of the most purchased travel souvenirs. From accessories such as typical shawls and headpieces to footwear, there are plenty of opportunities to acquire traditional garments anywhere. These are often delicate items that could be damaged inside a suitcase.

Wines, spirits, and typical products.
Local food and wine hold a prominent place among the most popular souvenirs. Being able to take home the taste of a trip is undoubtedly a way to extend the pleasant sensations experienced during a stay abroad and a welcome gift for friends and family. Of course, attempting to send wines, oil, traditional spirits, and sweets is not easy, and the risk of breaking a precious bottle often discourages tourists from purchasing.

Prints and design objects.
Not only traditional objects and products fascinate travelers:  design creations are increasingly popular among the most purchased souvenirs. Lamps, engravings, and various decorative objects are increasingly appreciated by those seeking style and originality to display in their living rooms.

Offering tourists the possibility to receive the products purchased directly at their home upon their return has great advantages and opens the door to sales opportunities that are usually closed. However, planning suitable and secure packaging and shipping services requires expertise, time, and resources. MBE is a professional and reliable partner, working alongside merchants, shopkeepers, artisans, and boutiques who wish to take advantage of the many opportunities related to tourism by offering shipping and packaging solutions designed to allow their customers to shop with complete peace of mind, without worrying about how to transport products and objects.

Thanks to flexible solutions designed to preserve the integrity of items through customized packaging and specific materials, with MBE it is possible to offer a professional shipping and packaging service with tracking code options. In addition, with MBE SafeValue it is possible to ship valuable items, works of art, and wines safely, covering the real value of the goods in case of loss or damage.

Make your travel memories arrive home effortlessly. With Mail Boxes Etc., we offer shipping and packaging solutions that guarantee the safety of your holiday purchases.

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