Top of the wish lists for Christmas gifts
Each year in the lead-up to Christmas, comparison shopping site PriceMe tracks what products are searched for the most, and what are trending up or down. So, for the people in your life who’ve behaved themselves all year round, here’s the definitive list of what’s hot, and what’s not.
Continuing in its top spot again this year, the Apple iPhone was the most requested product in 2011. iPhone-related searches have increased by 36 percent compared to last year. Searches for the new iPhone 4S have rapidly increased since it was released in New Zealand recently. However, the Samsung Galaxy S phone competes with rival iPhone 4 and 4S in the number of searches, and have surged almost 600 percent since last year.
The fastest growing search keyword on PriceMe is iPad. Searches related to iPads (including iPad 2) have increased 1,800 percent since last year, with interest in tablets in general increasing by some 260 percent. Other members of the tablet family such as ebook readers, are also trending upwards. Searches for Kindle, finally available in NZ, have grown by 240 percent and ebook readers in general by 40 percent.
“There’s always a few surprises when we measure what our users are looking at” says Chris Palmer, Marketing Director at PriceMe. “This year the number of searches for fridges has increased by 45 percent year on year, with bar fridges being a particularly hot item during RWC.”
“Whiteware is often seen as a “barometer” product that consumers purchase when they’re feeling confident about the economy” says Palmer. Similarly, searches for microwave ovens were up 101 percent and lawnmowers jumping from almost zero last year to being in the top 30 products searched this year.
One of the hottest search terms overall was for the mega-hit video game Modern Warfare 3, indicating it could be a great Xmas pressie for game-crazy kids, but check they haven’t already ordered one online first. Overall interest in PS3 video games has remained constant over the year, while searches for PSP games have increased by 92 percent. Other hot game searches are Skyrim (from Elder Scrolls) and traditional Lego.
What’s Hot
Apple iPad + 1,800 percent
Samsung Galaxy S + 600 percent
Amazon Kindle + 240 percent
Microwave ovens (general) + 101 percent
PSP video games + 92 percent
Fridges (general) + 45 percent
eBook readers (general) + 40 percent
Apple iPhone + 36 percent
What’s Cold
Freeview (TV) products - 53 percent
Apple iPods - 31 percent
Expresso machines (general) - 29 percent
Trampolines - 26 percent
Kinect games - 25 percent
What do you think?