WALTHAM, Mass. (Business Wire EON) April 28, 2008 -- While U.S. small business owners' expectations for strong Mother's Day holiday sales have waned over last year's survey, many of them are, in fact, predicting higher sales in 2008. According to the survey, 44 percent of U.S. small business owners anticipate Mother's Day sales in 2008 will be higher than sales last year, while 34 percent anticipate sales to remain the same and 22 percent expect sales will be lower.
More Small Businesses Publicize Mother's Day Promotions
A notable 74 percent of surveyed U.S. small business owners are planning promotional offers for Mother's Day. Furthermore, a strong majority (88 percent) plan to reach out to their customers this year with special Mother's Day email marketing promotions in an effort to capture more business, similar to last year's 86 percent. Other marketing methods, including online marketing (24 percent), flyers (24 percent), direct mail (23 percent), and TV, radio, or newspaper advertising (21 percent), follow email marketing.
"Despite reports of curtailed consumer spending, most small businesses recognize the importance of Mother's Day and don't expect consumers to cut these purchases," said Gail Goodman, CEO of Constant Contact. "Many small businesses are seizing this opportunity to connect with the people who already know and trust their business - their current customers. In fact, our survey indicates that a majority of businesses plan to use cost-effective tools like email marketing to help their customers find meaningful Mother's Day gifts."
Economic Stimulus Payments Unlikely to Boost Sales, Say U.S. Small Business Owners
According to surveyed U.S. small businesses, a majority (62 percent) do not expect the economic stimulus payments, slated to be sent in May to more than 130 million households, to increase sales for their business. This figure is in line with other reports**, that indicate that a majority of consumers will elect to pay bills or buy necessities, rather than other discretionary purchases.
Nevertheless, mothers will be celebrated - according to the survey, mothers can expect to be on the receiving end of traditional Mother's Day gifts again this year. The most anticipated purchases are flowers (37 percent), followed closely by a meal at a restaurant (25 percent), a salon/spa appointment (21 percent), jewelry (13 percent), and clothing (4 percent). In addition, small businesses report that the majority of their customers (75 percent) typically spend $25-$75 each on Mother's Day gifts.
U.S. small businesses also continue to expect online sales to play a large role in this year's Mother's Day sales as more than half (63 percent) expect an increase in online purchases this year.
Below are sample questions from Constant Contact's 3rd Annual Mother's Day Outlook survey. The full results of the survey are available online: http://img.constantcontact.com/docs/pdf/Mothers_day_survey_FINAL.pdf
Do you anticipate a strong Mother's Day season in sales for your
business?
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Yes 55%
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No 45%
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Do you anticipate your Mother's Day sales to be higher or lower in
2008 versus last year?
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Higher 44%
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Lower 22%
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Remain the same 34%
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What do you think will be the most popular item during this year's
Mother's Day season?
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Flowers 37%
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Meal at a restaurant 25%
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Spa/salon appointment 21%
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Jewelry 13%
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Clothing 4%
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Do you feel that the U.S. tax stimulus refund being sent out in May
will help increase sales for your business?
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Yes 38%
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No 62%
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he 2008 U.S. Small Business Mother's Day Outlook survey was
conducted through targeted online distribution to U.S. small business
owners, who are current customers of Constant Contact, recording
results from more than 1,000 respondents. The survey was conducted
from March 29, 2008 through April 9, 2008.
¶ **PNC Economic Outlook survey: http://www.pnc.com/eos; H&R Block
Survey: http://www.hrblock.com/press/Article.jsp?articleid=1520
¶ About Constant Contact, Inc.
¶ Launched in 1998, Constant Contact, Inc. is a leading provider of
email marketing and online survey tools for small organizations,
including small businesses, associations, and nonprofits. To learn
more, please visit www.constantcontact.com or call (781) 472-8100.
¶ This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within
the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are
made as of the date they were first issued and were based on current
expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections as well as the
beliefs and assumptions of our management. Words such as "expect,"
"anticipate," "should," "believe," "hope," "target," "project,"
"goals," "estimate," "potential," "predict," "may," "will," "might,"
"could," "intend," variations of these terms or the negative of these
terms and similar expressions are intended to identify these
forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to
a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which involve factors or
circumstances that are beyond Constant Contact's control. Constant
Contact's actual results could differ materially from those stated or
implied in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors,
including but not limited to, the Company's ability to attract new
customers and retain existing customers, the Company's dependence on
the market for email marketing services for small businesses,
nonprofits, and associations and general economic conditions affecting
that market, adverse regulatory or legal developments, the Company's
ability to continue to promote and maintain our brand in a
cost-effective manner, the Company's ability to compete effectively,
the continued growth and acceptance of email as a communications tool,
the Company's ability to develop and introduce new products or
enhancements to existing products, the Company's ability to manage
growth, the Company's ability to attract and retain key personnel, the
Company's ability to protect its intellectual property and other
proprietary rights, and other risks detailed in Constant Contact's
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 filed
with the Securities Exchange Commission ("SEC") on March 14, 2008, as
well as other documents that may be filed by the Company from time to
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release represent Constant Contact's views as of the date of this
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their respective owners.
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There are a lot of photographers that serve Vancouver, Washington and surrounding cities, the Greater Portland, Oregon area, and Orange County, California.
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You are feeling full of anticipation and naughty. You are waiting for your husband to come home. You dab on the most provocative perfume you own, which is your husbands favorite. You are wearing a teddy with a leopard print. While checking yourself in the mirror you look at your choice of your accessories and smile to yourself. You feel so vamped up.