• by Masha Geller , October 31, 2002

I promise this will be the last time I talk about the online holiday shopping season this year (unless something truly exciting happens in the next two months), but here’s the last word.

Terra Lycos today announced that according to their findings from a recent online poll, more consumers have already started their holiday shopping for the upcoming season rather than waiting for the traditional day after Thanksgiving kick-off.

More than half of those surveyed also say that due to the economy, they will be spending more conservatively and spending less this year than last.

More specifically, Lycos found that 41% of users have already started their holiday shopping while the remainder is split between planning to start shopping the day after Thanksgiving (25%) or beginning in December (26%).

Only 7% say they will be doing all their shopping on December 24. Also, 60% of users say they will be spending more conservatively this year due to the economy.

Interestingly enough, 2% say they will be spending lavishly with the same number planning to rack up a credit card bill that they will worry about later (2%). About half - 51% - say they will be spending less than last year.

Kim Kluck, group product manager for Lycos Shopping, said the survey results “support our finding that shopping traffic begins to increase dramatically as soon as fall rolls around." Bottom line? Get those holiday campaigns up and running soon!