Online search trends indicate rising popularity of tech gifts for 2013 holiday season

NEW YORK, Nov. 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- An analysis of online retail activity by Experian Marketing Services, a global provider of integrated consumer insights, targeting and cross-channel marketing, shows that technology products, particularly fitness gadgets, smartphones, tablets and game consoles, are dominating online search trends this holiday season.

Leveraging Experian Marketing Services' Hitwise^®, the world's largest sample of online consumer behavior that connects online insights with offline lifestyle and life stage information, the company reports annually on key retail trends — like hot products and top retailer Websites — throughout the holiday season.

The top 10 most searched-for brands and products online for the past four weeks ending Nov. 9, 2013, include:

"Nearly every year, Uggs are the most popular product of the holiday season, and we see that increase as the weather gets colder," notes Heather Dougherty, director of research at Experian Marketing Services. "For the 2013 season, however, there are a lot of new products on our top 10 list, particularly in the electronic and technology gifts category, due to new releases from Apple, Sony and Microsoft. Many of these tech-related gifts offer consumers an 'all in one' option, replacing the functional benefits of traditional gifts, like cameras, watches, books, games or music."

Most popular electronic brands
The top 10 most searched-for brands and products online driving traffic to electronics retailers for the past four weeks ending Nov. 9 include:

Top tablet brands
Among the leading tablet brands, iPads have been the dominant search term variation, with search variations rising more than four times higher than the nearest tablet competitor, Samsung's Galaxy.

Most popular toys
The top 15 most searched-for toy brands online for the past four weeks ending Nov. 9 include:

"Rubber band bracelets are all the rage with children this holiday season for both trading and sharing with family and friends," notes Dougherty. "Because of the unlimited amount of combinations that children can create with Rainbow Looms and Cra-Z-looms, marketers can use the popularity of these brands as a way to engage with parents over this holiday season through deals and content that focuses on tips or 'how-to' ideas."

Preferences for products change for different consumer segments
Interestingly, "Tech Junkies," or those consumers who are avid readers and visitors of technology review Websites and technology content Websites, are more interested in Google and Microsoft products than the general population.

While Tech Junkies are 69 percent more likely than the average online adult to search for "iPad Air," they are 2.7 times more likely to search for "Nexus 7" and 1.3 times more likely to search for "Galaxy Note 3," two Android-powered tablets. Microsoft's new tablet, the Surface 2, also is searched for by Tech Junkies at rates double that of the average online adult.

Experian Marketing Services will be posting weekly updates for both hot products and top retailer Websites on their website throughout the holiday season. To view a webcast on key holiday trends and search marketing tactics, please use this link.

About Experian Marketing Services
Experian Marketing Services is a global provider of integrated consumer insights and targeting, data quality and cross-channel marketing. We help organizations from around the world intelligently interact with today's dynamic, empowered and hyperconnected customers. By coordinating seamless interactions across all marketing channels, marketers are able to plan and execute superior brand experiences that deepen customer loyalty, strengthen brand advocacy and maximize profits.

For more information, please visit http://www.experian.com/marketingservices.

About Experian
Experian^® is the leading global information services company, providing data and analytical tools to clients around the world. The Group helps businesses to manage credit risk, prevent fraud, target marketing offers and automate decision making. Experian also helps individuals to check their credit report and credit score, and protect against identity theft.

Experian plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (EXPN) and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 index. Total revenue for the year ended March 31, 2013, was US$4.7 billion. Experian employs approximately 17,000 people in 40 countries and has its corporate headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, with operational headquarters in Nottingham, UK; California, US; and Sao Paulo, Brazil.

For more information, visit http://www.experianplc.com.

Experian and the Experian marks used herein are service marks or registered trademarks of Experian Information Solutions, Inc. Other product and company names mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.

Contact:
Suzanne Blackburn
Experian Marketing Services
1 212 863 4648
[email protected]

SOURCE Experian Marketing Services