It's Likely to Be a 'Blue Christmas' for Decorations Marketers and Retailers This Year

STEVENS, PA, Nov 29 (MARKET WIRE) -- Retailers and marketers are hunkering down for a less than stellar Christmas gift shopping season. Now there is one more reason to add to their gloom -- there is no trendy Christmas decoration that people absolutely must buy to addto their holiday displays. As a result, Christmas decorations sales are expected to remain about the same as last year at $9.3 billion. This is according to the last study of the seasonal decorations market from Unity Marketing.

"Innovation drives the seasonal decorations market and this year there is nothing really new to capture people's imaginations and compel them to buy," says Pam Danziger, president of Unity Marketing and author of "Shopping: Why We Love It and How Retailers Can Create the Ultimate Customer Experience." "Last season the must-have item was the outdoor balloon inflatables which contributed to the 9.5 percent growth in sales of Christmas decorations from 2005 to 2006. This year the stores have little to offer that will generate that kind of excitement and stimulate such strong sales."

She continues, "The biggest innovation this year is the prelighted Christmastrees, which eliminate a major hassle in decorating. But with prices ranging $250 and above for the better offerings, this isn't the season when people are likely to 'trade up' to a more luxurious Christmas tree alternative. They will wait until next year, when hopefully they will feel more flush. For this season consumers are expected to focus on the 'usual suspects' when it comes to Christmas decorating, including Christmas tree balls and ornaments, mantel decorations and candle lights."

And she concludes that new color schemes for Christmas decorating are not likely to jump-start sales either this year. "While decorators and designers keep pushing alternative color combos for Christmas, nearly 70 percent of decorations buyers surveyed plan on sticking to traditional green and redthemes. Gold is a popular accent color, followed by white and silver."

About the "Seasonal Decorations Report, 2007 Update"

These statistics and more about the seasonal decorations market areavailable in a new Unity Marketing market research study, "The Seasonal DecorationsReport, 2007 Update." Based upon research conducted with active holiday and seasonal decorations buyers, including results of surveys of 2,000 consumers in 2005 and 2006, this report is prepared for product designers, marketers and retailers that target the holiday and seasonal decorations market and who need to know the latest trends in holiday decorating.

With a focus on the consumer, their needs, desires and preferences, this research study includes research data and statistics about:

-- Market Size and Growth - The report breaks down sales in the $19.3 -- Market Size and Growth - The report breaks down sales in the $19.3 billion retail industry by holiday and season, by type of indoor and outdoor decorations and channels of distribution. It also provides growth statistics from 2003 to 2006 and sales projections through 2015.

-- Holidays and Events that Stimulate Decorations Purchases - Provides -- Holidays and Events that Stimulate Decorations Purchases - Provides details about decorations buyer demographics, the holidays they decorate for, attitudes about decorating, what decorations they purchased and how much they spent.

-- Types of Decorations - Details concerning what consumers use for -- Types of Decorations - Details concerning what consumers use for each holiday and event, including Valentine's Day, Easter, Halloween, Christmas and other major holidays, as well as parties and other events.

-- Top Brands and Competitors - The report profiles key competitors -- Top Brands and Competitors - The report profiles key competitors in the holiday and decorations market, including: - American Greetings and Carlson Cards; - Boyds Bears/Boyds Collection; - Bronner's; - Walt Disney Company; - Demdaco, including Silvestri; - Enesco; - Hallmark; - Kurt Adler; - Lenox Group, including Department 56; - Midwest of Cannon Falls; - Old World Christmas; - Pacific Rim; - Precious Moments; - Rauch Industries including Christopher Radko; - Things Remembered; and - Yankee Candle.

-- Where They Shop - Which stores they favor and the key factors that -- Where They Shop - Which stores they favor and the key factors that influence shoppers in their store selections for decorations shopping.

-- Personalities - Provides profiles of five different types of -- Personalities - Provides profiles of five different types of seasonal decorators and provides guidance to marketers in how to use these psychographic insights to sell more.

-- Trends in the Market for Decorations - Identifies five key -- Trends in the Market for Decorations - Identifies five key opportunities for marketers now and in the future, as well as an important marketing vulnerability marketers must be careful to avoid. To order a copy or to learn more about the study, use this link http://www.unitymarketingonline.com/cms_christmas/

For media: Charts, tables and graphs are available on request.

About Pam Danziger and Unity Marketing

Pamela N. Danziger is an internationally recognized expert specializing in consumer insights, especially for marketers and retailers that sell luxury goods and experiences to the masses or the 'classes.' She is president of Unity Marketing, a marketing consulting firm she founded in 1992.

Advising such clients as PPR, Diageo, Swarovski, Waterford/Wedgwood, Lenox,Prudential Fine Homes, GM, Orient-Express Hotels, The World Gold Council,and The Conference Board, Danziger taps consumer psychology to help clients navigate and master the changing luxury consumer marketplace.

In recognition of her ground-breaking work in the luxury consumer market,Pam received the Global Luxury Award presented by Harper's Bazaar for top luxury industry achievers in 2007.

Her latest book is "Shopping: Why We Love It and How Retailers Can Createthe Ultimate Customer Experience," published by Kaplan Publishing in October 2006. Her other books include "Let Them Eat Cake: Marketing Luxury to theMasses

-- as well as the Classes" (Dearborn Trade Publishing, $27, hardcover) and "Why -- as well as the Classes" (Dearborn Trade Publishing, $27, hardcover) and "Why People Buy Things They Don't Need: Understanding and Predicting ConsumerBehavior"

(Chicago: Dearborn Trade Publishing, 2004).

Catch Pam on CNN In the Money This Weekend

Pam Danziger, president of Unity Marketing, is scheduled to appear on CNN'sIn the Money show this weekend to talk about the latest trends in Internet shopping. The show will be broadcast at 1 pm Saturday and 3 pm Sunday. She will be commenting on the latest research on luxury consumers and their use of the Internet, as well as recreational shoppers' shopping preferences from her latest book, "Shopping: Why We Love It and How Retailers Can Create the Ultimate Customer Experience." Contact: Pam Danziger

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