What makes you overspend before Christmas?
Summary
Damien O'Reilly, a senior lecturer in retail management, joins Keira Kelly and Shane Coleman to discuss the early start of the Christmas shopping season. The conversation explores how online commerce and events like Black Friday have extended the "golden quarter" into October, driven by consumer cost-of-living concerns and retailers' need for better stock control. O'Reilly also advises shoppers to verify true bargains and consider buying local to support the Irish economy.
Topics discussed
Show intro and guest introduction
The shift from traditional December shopping to earlier starts
The 'Golden Quarter' and the impact of Black Friday
Amazon Prime Day in October and early purchasing trends
Cost of living pressures and spreading out holiday spending
Supermarkets stocking Christmas goods as early as June
Retailer motivations: extending shopping periods and loyalty
Stock control and reducing waste for retailers
Consumer desire to beat crowds and reduce uncertainty
Managing inventory to avoid post-Christmas price cuts
The global rise of Black Friday and Cyber Monday
Advice to buy local to support the Irish economy
Risks of late shopping: stock availability and sizes
Listener interaction and casual sign-off
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