August 29, 2008
Home
About
Submit Press Release
PR Firms
Editors/Journalists
Search Archives
 
News Releases by Category  
News by Country  
News by MSA  
All News for Today  
Browse News by Day  
News by Trackbacks  
All Press Releases for April 28, 2008 Subscribe to this News Feed  
 

Fifty-Five Percent of U.S. Small Business Owners Anticipate Strong Sales for Mother's Day in 2008, According to Constant Contact Survey

News of economic woes has not completely discouraged U.S. small business owners as they look ahead to Mother's Day shopping. According to Constant Contact's 3rd Annual Small Business Mother's Day Outlook survey*, 55 percent of U.S. small business owners anticipate strong sales this Mother's Day holiday. This represents a decrease of 18 percentage points from sales expectations in 2007, when 73 percent of U.S. small business owners anticipated strong Mother's Day shopping season sales. Constant Contact(R), Inc. (NasdaqGM: CTCT) is a leading provider of email marketing and online surveys for small organizations.

WALTHAM, Mass. (Business Wire EON) April 28, 2008 -- News of economic woes has not completely discouraged U.S. small business owners as they look ahead to Mothers Day shopping. According to Constant Contacts 3rd Annual Small Business Mothers Day Outlook survey*, 55 percent of U.S. small business owners anticipate strong sales this Mothers Day holiday. This represents a decrease of 18 percentage points from sales expectations in 2007, when 73 percent of U.S. small business owners anticipated strong Mothers Day shopping season sales. Constant Contact®, Inc. (NasdaqGM: CTCT) is a leading provider of email marketing and online surveys for small organizations.

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.
While U.S. small business owners expectations for strong Mothers Day holiday sales have waned over last years 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 Mothers 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.

News Image More Small Businesses Publicize Mothers Day Promotions

A notable 74 percent of surveyed U.S. small business owners are planning promotional offers for Mothers Day. Furthermore, a strong majority (88 percent) plan to reach out to their customers this year with special Mothers Day email marketing promotions in an effort to capture more business, similar to last years 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 Mothers Day and dont 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 Mothers 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 Mothers 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 Mothers Day gifts.

U.S. small businesses also continue to expect online sales to play a large role in this years Mothers Day sales as more than half (63 percent) expect an increase in online purchases this year.

Below are sample questions from Constant Contacts 3rd Annual Mothers 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?
Yes 55%
No 45%
Do you anticipate your Mother's Day sales to be higher or lower in 2008 versus last year?
Higher 44%
Lower 22%
Remain the same 34%
What do you think will be the most popular item during this year's Mother's Day season?
Flowers 37%
Meal at a restaurant 25%
Spa/salon appointment 21%
Jewelry 13%
Clothing 4%
Do you feel that the U.S. tax stimulus refund being sent out in May will help increase sales for your business?
Yes 38%
No 62%

*The 2008 U.S. Small Business Mothers 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 Contacts 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 time with the SEC. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. The forward-looking statements included in this press release represent Constant Contact's views as of the date of this press release. The Company anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause its views to change. Constant Contact undertakes no intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Constant Contact's views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.

Constant Contact is a registered trademark and the Constant Contact logo is a trademark of Constant Contact, Inc. All Constant Contact product names and other brand names mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of Constant Contact, Inc. All other company and product names may be trademarks or service marks of their respective owners.

MULTIMEDIA GALLERY

http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=5668971

Trackback URL: http://www.prweb.com/pingpr.php/VGhpci1JbnNlLVNpbmctSG9yci1GYWx1LVplcm8=


See the original story at: http://eon.businesswire.com/releases/percent/small/prweb897384.htm
Email this story to a colleague
Printer Friendly Version
Bookmark with del.icio.us
Bookmark with Y!MyWeb
Submit to Digg
Kevin Mullins
Constant Contact, Inc.
781-472-6206
Email us Here

BWAttachment897384-3.jpg
Uploaded: Apr 28, 2008
File Name: BWAttachment897384-3.jpg

If you have any questions regarding information in these press releases please contact the company listed in the press release. Please do not contact PRWeb. We will be unable to assist you with your inquiry. PRWeb disclaims any content contained in these release. Our complete disclaimer appears here.
 
Disclaimer: If you have any questions regarding information in these press releases please contact the company listed in the press release.
Please do not contact PRWeb®. We will be unable to assist you with your inquiry.
PRWeb® disclaims any content contained in these releases. Our complete disclaimer appears here.

© Copyright 1997-2007, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Copyright