3 Gifting Insights from our VP of Commerce
3 in 4 Gear Patrol readers plan to purchase gifts for their spouse, partner or loved ones to celebrate holidays or milestones this year, and Valentine’s Day was no exception. For a deeper look into our audience’s gifting habits, we tapped Gear Patrol’s VP of Commerce, Brian Louie, to share his top 3 gifting insights based on Valentine’s Day affiliate spending. Brian pulls back the curtain for an inside look into who our audience is shopping for, the types of products they’re looking for, and their loyalty to DTC brands.
Read more below.
(SOURCE: Gear Patrol October 2022 Audience Survey)
The Insights:
1. Great gear isn’t just for men — our top performing Valentine’s gift guide was “Gifts for Women”.
Our audience is on the hunt for unique gifts – whether shopping for friends, loved ones or even themselves – and for Valentine’s Day, they came to Gear Patrol to find that perfect item. Our Gifts for Women gift guide – a roundup of our editors top picks of the best accessories, apparel, personal products, flowers and more – doubled in engagement in comparison to last year.
While building out this year’s guide, Brian and his team made a concerted effort to be concise and impactful to meet the needs of Gear Patrol’s entire audience by showcasing a diverse roundup of gift ideas for each unique individual in our readers’ lives.
2. Personal and practical gift-giving is in for 2023. Accessories, flowers, food, apparel, home, and personal care items were the top items our audience purchased this Valentine’s Day.
Although flowers and chocolates will never go out of style, our audience is opting for more personal and practical gifts this year such as accessories, apparel and personal care products. As economic conditions remain uncertain, our audience is investing in long-term, quality items that their loved ones can enjoy even after the Valentine’s Day celebrations come to an end.
3. Our audience gravitates to DTC brands.
Our audience shows great interest in up-and-coming brands. Knowledgeable and interested in products with innovative features and fresh aesthetics, our readers trust Gear Patrol to connect them with new and noteworthy brands that deliver next-level gear. When making a purchase, they value a more direct experience, with 79% likely to purchase a product that Gear Patrol recommends.
(SOURCE: Gear Patrol 2022 Audience Survey)
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