The Trends That Keep Growing Stronger
AI Shopping Assistants: Your New Best Friend (Whether You Know It or Not)
Let's address the elephant in the room: AI has officially crashed the Christmas party, and it's here to stay. More than half of consumers anticipate using AI assistants for shopping by the end of 2025, and customers arriving via AI agents are 10% more engaged than traditional visitors.
This isn't just about ChatGPT helping you find gift ideas anymore. The global AI shopping assistant market is estimated to be valued at US$ 4.2 billion in 2025 and projected to reach US$ 22.1 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 26.8%. That's explosive growth, and it's changing everything from how we discover products to how we make purchasing decisions.
What's particularly interesting is how younger shoppers are leading this charge. 43% of Gen Z are using AI for inspiration and product discovery, and are using digital tools to find the best prices. They're not just browsing—they're strategically leveraging technology to maximize value.
The Early Bird Gets the Deal (And Avoids the Stress)
Here's a trend that would make our grandparents proud: early shopping is back with a vengeance. With nearly 80% of holiday gift spending expected to happen before Cyber Monday, the window to win consumers is opening earlier, and closing faster.
October is the new December, folks. Holiday shopping is starting earlier than ever, with October taking the lead in 2025. Retailers have caught on too—we're seeing "Summerween" in July and Christmas promotions sneaking into stores by September. It might feel overwhelming, but savvy shoppers are using this extended timeline to spread out spending and snag better deals.
Social Commerce: Where TikTok Meets Your Shopping Cart
A staggering 80% of consumers plan to use social as much if not more to find gifts compared to last year, with 63% of Gen Z and 51% of Millennials planning to use social more. This isn't just window shopping on Instagram anymore—it's a full-blown shopping ecosystem.
The trust factor has skyrocketed too. Trust in content creator recommendations during the holidays has seen a dramatic increase, jumping by 30 percentage points to 42% in 2025. Micro-influencers with 10K-100K followers are particularly influential, proving that relatability trumps celebrity status when it comes to gift recommendations.
The Secondhand Revolution Goes Mainstream
Perhaps the most surprising growth story? Secondhand shopping has shed its stigma entirely. The secondhand apparel market is expected to reach $350 billion by 2028—growing three times faster than the global apparel market.
This isn't just about saving money (though that's certainly part of it). 58% of Gen Z shoppers prefer sustainable brands, while 73% pay premium prices for sustainable products, and 48% of younger generations check secondhand options first. It's a values-driven movement that's reshaping how we think about gift-giving.
The Trends in Serious Decline
The Physical Retail Apocalypse Accelerates
Let's not sugarcoat this: brick-and-mortar retail is hemorrhaging. About 15,000 retail stores are expected to close this year, significantly higher than the 7,325 closures in 2024. Major names like Claire's, Party City, and Rite Aid have either filed for bankruptcy or shuttered hundreds of locations.
But here's where it gets interesting: physical retail isn't dying—it's evolving. Despite headlines suggesting a decline in physical stores, 80% of all shopping still happens in store, and shopping-center vacancy is at its lowest point in two decades at 5.4%. The stores that survive are the ones reimagining the shopping experience, not just selling products.
The Death of Last-Minute Shopping
Remember the adrenaline rush of Christmas Eve shopping? That's becoming a relic of the past. Nearly one-half of shoppers plan to buy before Thanksgiving. The combination of economic uncertainty and better planning tools means consumers are front-loading their holiday shopping like never before.
Traditional Advertising's Final Bow
Print circulars and traditional holiday advertisements are essentially extinct. Consumers now get their deals through apps, emails, and social media. The shift is so complete that many retailers have abandoned traditional advertising altogether, redirecting budgets to digital and influencer partnerships.
The Trends That Are Fundamentally Changing
Value Means Everything (But Not What You Think)
Seven in 10 shoppers across all income groups are engaging in value-seeking behaviors, with women (78%) more likely than men (58%) to do so. But here's the twist: value isn't just about price anymore.
Consumers are redefining value to include quality, convenience, and emotional connection. They're willing to pay more for products that align with their values but will aggressively hunt for deals on everything else. It's a sophisticated, segmented approach to spending that retailers are struggling to keep up with.
The Generational Shopping Divide
The differences between how Gen Z and Baby Boomers shop have never been more pronounced. Gen Z shoppers are planning to spend 34% less than last year, yet they're the most engaged with new shopping technologies and platforms.
Meanwhile, older generations still value in-store experiences but are increasingly comfortable with digital tools. It's creating a complex landscape where retailers need multiple strategies to reach different age groups effectively.
My Predictions for Christmas 2025
Based on all this data, here are my predictions for how Christmas shopping will actually play out this year:
1. AI Will Drive at Least 20% of Holiday Sales
Salesforce predicts AI tools will drive 21% of global holiday orders this year. I think they're being conservative. Between AI shopping assistants, personalized recommendations, and automated deal-hunting, AI's influence will be felt in nearly every purchase decision.
2. The Week Before Christmas Will Be a Ghost Town
With so much shopping happening early, the traditional last-week rush will be noticeably muted. Retailers counting on procrastinators will be disappointed. Smart brands will shift their promotional calendars accordingly.
3. Physical Stores That Survive Will Thrive
The culling of weak retailers means the survivors will capture more market share. By 2028, Forrester's research finds that 72% of total USA retail sales will occur in brick-and-mortar stores. Stores that offer experiences, not just products, will see increased foot traffic.
4. Secondhand Gifts Will Lose Their Stigma Entirely
This is the year that giving pre-owned items becomes not just acceptable but desirable. Expect to see luxury secondhand items given as premium gifts, especially among younger consumers.
5. Social Commerce Will Have Its Breakthrough Moment
While it's been building for years, Christmas 2025 will be remembered as when social commerce truly arrived. The combination of improved shopping features, trusted influencers, and seamless checkout will drive billions in sales directly through social platforms.
The Bottom Line
Christmas shopping in 2025 isn't just different—it's smarter, earlier, and more technology-driven than ever before. The consumers who embrace these changes will find better deals, less stress, and more meaningful purchases. Those who resist? Well, they'll probably still find what they need, but they'll pay more for the privilege.
The real winners this holiday season won't be the biggest spenders or the earliest shoppers. They'll be the ones who understand that the rules have changed and adapt accordingly. Whether that means leveraging AI to find the perfect gift, shopping secondhand for sustainable options, or simply starting your shopping in October instead of December, the opportunities for a better holiday shopping experience have never been greater.
One thing's certain: the ghosts of Christmas shopping past would barely recognize the landscape of 2025. And honestly? That might not be such a bad thing. The chaos might be gone, but it's been replaced by something more interesting: a shopping season that actually makes sense.
So grab your phone (not your car keys), fire up that AI assistant, and start planning. Christmas 2025 is shaping up to be the most efficient, value-driven, and surprisingly enjoyable shopping season we've seen in years. Just don't wait until December to figure that out.
