Radial, Inc., a bpost group company, the leader in eCommerce solutions, today announced findings from its annual Peak Season Consumer Survey, uncovering shifts in what drives holiday shopping decisions. While economic pressures persist, this year, consumers are clear about what they want: certainty in delivery, flexibility in service, and trust beyond the checkout button. Radial’s research provides a strategic blueprint for brands and retailers as they navigate a peak season shaped by trade disruption and heightened consumer expectations.

Capture early-bird discount holiday shoppers jumpstarting holiday shopping and the growing population looking to spread out payments via BNPL and other alternative payment methods. Now is the time to implement effective strategies before the months of holiday spending ahead.

Will you be using X for your holiday promotions this year? Elon and Co. have been busy touting the platform’s improving ad offerings, now powered by its Grok AI tool, which enables advertisers to rely on Grok to find the right audience for their promotions, and optimize performance in the app.

And if your audience is active there, it could be worth considering, and this week, X has launched a new holiday marketing hub to help guide your X ads approach this coming season.

It’s still the peak of summer in the northern hemisphere, but many retailers are already preparing for a different peak: 2025’s holiday season. For many brands, the Q4 holiday shopping period represents the busiest time of year as consumers clamor for new products across categories. But 2025 may bring a different style of shopping season, and retailers should start preparing now.  

Consumers May Approach the Holidays with Caution 

When it comes to peak season, this year feels different for many retailers … because it is. New research from Deposco reveals that nearly half of retailers expect this peak season to be harder than 2024. Their trepidation is likely due to several converging factors, from persistent supply chain disruptions and rising transportation costs to tariffs and unpredictable consumer demands.

To prepare for a successful peak season, the leaders we surveyed are focusing on five areas so they can better navigate disruption.

As the Black Friday advice starts flooding in, it’s getting harder to separate proven strategies from marketing noise. Some experts advise starting your campaigns in October, while others insist November is soon enough. Some swear by steep discounts, while others make room for a wider variety of perks. With conflicting advice everywhere, it’s hard to know which tactics will actually generate more revenue than last year—and which ones just sound good in theory.

Retail performance is at a tipping point. In 2024, 65% of online shoppers abandoned purchases due to poor website experience, and with peak season traffic on the rise, the margin for error is razor-thin. How site speed, efficiency & insight can optimize performance in the moments that matter most ? Yottaa’s 2025 Holiday Readiness Report provides essential insights into how top retailers are optimizing their digital storefronts to deliver faster, smarter, and more profitable experiences this holiday season.

Gen Z is ready to spend. Are you ready to capitalise? Black Friday used to be pretty straightforward. Add discounts at the front of your store and let the people fight over the products for a day. But for Gen Z, Black Friday isn’t just a sale day now; it’s practically a whole season. They go hunting across the depths of the internet (the way around which they know better than you) for the best deals and offers.