Holidays 2024 Installment 3: Mike Debnar Predicts the Spending Future
As we continue with our Holiday 2024 trends and forecast countdown, we asked Mike Debnar what stars will be shining bright this season. Debnar is the VP Retail Executive Advisor at Medallia. He focuses on creating innovative customer experience programs for brands utilizing his extensive background in CRM and CX. Mike holds a degree in management information systems from the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business and is a frequent guest lecturer at Texas A&M University on innovation.
What is your #1 prediction for holiday shopping season?
“We will continue to see an increase in buy online pick up in store this season. This is part of the shift to convenience trend we’ve seen since 2020.”
What will people be buying?
“In addition to traditional gifts, our research shows that there’s a trend to give experiential gifts, especially with Gen X and millennials.”
How will marketers and brands up their game this year?
“Brands should empower their employees with technology that allows them to serve customers quickly and efficiently. For example, mobile apps with enterprise inventory visibility for cross-channel conversion.”
How will AI and other technologies impact the shopping process?
“AI will be used extensively this year to find gifts for people that are hard to buy for. Just ask “what to buy a man that likes sports and food for Christmas?” People can find a great list of ideas from ChatGPT.”
What are you asking “Santa” for this year or expecting to find by the candles at your holiday celebration?
“A portable Blackstone griddle. Blackstone has made me a cooking hero in my household.”
Give yourself an early holiday gift! Join us at Street Fight LIVE where a wide range of MULO (multi-location) brands and the companies that support them reveal the trends that will shape the restaurant, retail, and service ecosystem!
