Holiday Shoppers Will Flock To Stores In December.

The greatest share of holiday shoppers (29%) will do most of their gift buying in the first two weeks of December, according to the International Mass Retail Association’s first weekly holiday 2001 shopping survey. Another 10 percent will shop for most of their gifts a week before Christmas Day, while 1 percent will hasten to the stores on Christmas Eve.

About 13 percent will do most of their shopping the day after Thanksgiving, and another 13 percent will try to find the majority of their gifts by November 30.

The two hottest product categories on their gift lists are toys (24%) and consumer electronics, computers or home entertainment products (21%). The surveyed shoppers also cited: apparel or jewelry (16%); books or music (10%); home fashions, linens or kitchenware (7%); personal care products, perfume or cologne (4%), and gardening equipment or power tools (3%). About 12 percent said they did not have a hottest product category on their list.

“Holiday shoppers are already out in force in mass retail stores, and we expect this to get even better,” said IMRA President Robert J. Verdisco. “Mass retailers have offered excellent value throughout the year, and shoppers are responding well. We have also made shopping convenient and enjoyable. These are essential qualities for shoppers who have become even more interested in spending their time with family and friends.”

IMRA surveyed 1,000 U.S. consumers by telephone from November 16 to November 18. The survey was conducted by Market Facts.