Retailers take a conservative approach to the upcoming holiday season

Retailers have taken a much more conservative approach to the upcoming holiday season as they have in recent years. Sellers have up to 30% less merchandise stocked for the upcoming months. As a result, many are predicting that we will not see big 50%, 60% or 70% sales like we have in previous years.

Despite economic conditions, Craig Johnson, Roulston Research's Consumer community chair believes the recent pick-up in monthly sales, coupled with consumers that have "frugal fatigue", could make it hard for many to resist opening up their wallets this holiday season. If this happens, it could bring a run on some merchandise in the coming weeks.

If some retailers are caught with product shortfalls, Johnson believes that they may introduce spring merchandise in December to fill empty shelves. Johnson points out that this is not a new phenomenon. He has heard rumors that some teen-focused retailers may bring in spring products by mid-December.

Johnson also believes that E-readers, whether it's Kindle or Barnes & Noble's Nook e-reader that's coming out later this year, are going to be big sellers this season.