As the year wraps up, holiday shoppers are getting busy wrapping, too. And they’re looking for a wide range of gifts, according to data from Shopping Insights over the last few weeks. Here are just some of the trends we’ve seen nationwide for toy tinkerers, bookworms, makeup pros, sneakerheads and home decorators.
Tech toys cast a spell
While holiday favorites like dolls and LEGO kits remain popular, tech toys are drawing lots of attention—from the VTech Kidizoom Smartwatch DX to the Kano Harry Potter Coding Kit, which teaches kids to code using a programmable magic wand. Among other trending products, we see three L.O.L. Surprise! toy sets: Pearl Surprise, Bigger Surprise and Pets Series 3—all very popular in YouTube unboxing videos.
Books to read on holiday vacation
The winter months are perfect for curling up on the couch with a mug of cocoa and a good read. This year, the most popular book for adults is former U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama’s memoir “Becoming,” and the book they’ll most likely be reading to their kids is The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition, the illustrated storybook that comes with the Elf itself.
Worth watching
Newcomer analog watch brand MVMT steals the show this year. Vans Old Skool sneakers, Nike’s classic Windrunner jacket for men, and Canada Goose’s Solaris parka for women also stand out as winter favorites. The Ray-Ban Erika Classic has a sunny outlook—but the retro, round Ray-Ban Ja-Jo style is quickly catching up.
A fresh look
The eyeshadow palette is a makeup bag staple and a favorite stocking stuffer. Urban Decay’s “Naked 12-Color” palette and Huda Beauty’s “The New Nude” palette are among the most searched. Meanwhile, Urban Decay’s new “Naked Petite Heat” palette is on the rise, adding warm hues to the trend.
Setting the bar
Wireless soundbars get lots of attention in December, perhaps because a cozy movie night has special appeal during the cold winter months. The Sonos PLAYBAR is hugely popular among audio aficionados, while the Vizio SB3621N-E8 is piquing interest. We also see a growing demand for waterproof, shower-ready Bluetooth speakers, with Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM making a big splash. As for headphones and headsets, the Bose QuietComfort 35 II and Jabra Elite 65t are in demand, with Under Armour’s Project Rock Sport On-Ear Headphones growing very fast.
Caffeine fiends
If holiday shopping gives you the urge to have a strong cup of coffee, you’re not alone: coffee makers are hot this winter, especially in black. The Keurig K-Select B Single Serve and the Cuisinart Coffee Center are favorites, but the contemporary Ninja Coffee Bar CF091 is also on the rise.
For more insights behind this season’s trends, and to see how a product is trending in your region, check out the Shopping Insights tool.
That’s a wrap!
