Afterpay Reports Increased Basket Size For 2020 Holiday Season

Afterpay released consumer shopping trends for the Holiday 2020 shopping season for October 1st through the end of December 2020. Based on its data, consumers expanded their gift-giving lists and shopped for more items compared to last year.

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The company offers deferred payment plans by allowing customers to receive products immediately and pay for their purchases over four installments, interest-free.

The average basket size for Afterpay customers in the US increased by 30% when comparing the 2020 and 2019 Holiday shopping seasons. Traffic to Afterpay’s brand partners was also strong, as the company saw a 145% year-over-year increase in referrals to global merchants from its Shop Directory.

Thermal knits, pajamas and socks from Old Navy topped Afterpay’s list of most purchased items this season. Crocs, just off the heels of their #StrapBack TikTok challenge launched in partnership with Afterpay last fall, were also a favorite – as shoppers chose to give the gift of comfort. As we headed into colder winter months, fleece lined boots and slippers also proved to be popular purchases.

“In times of crisis, consumers seek both simplicity and familiarity, and this influences their shopping practices. During a particularly challenging holiday season, it’s no surprise that shoppers turned to the ‘good old days’ and the associated fashions to bring about a positive emotional response. Nostalgia has been shown to lift our mood, give us a positive outlook and even make us feel physically warm.”

Shakaila Forbes-Bell, Afterpay’s resident consumer psychologist

Afterpay Supports Online and Physical Stores

Customers had the option to shop for the holidays with Afterpay both online and in physical stores, as the company’s list of in-store merchants grew throughout the season.

By partnering with Afterpay in-store, retailers were able to tap into Afterpay’s highly engaged shoppers to increase their sales. Customer demand for Afterpay’s in-store solution continues to grow rapidly. More than two million customers have set up the Afterpay Card to shop in person since the offering went live in Fall 2020.

“As shoppers returned to stores this holiday season, we saw a rise in services like Buy Online, Pick Up In-Store (BOPIS) and contactless payments. Afterpay is at the forefront of these safe and seamless shopping experiences. According to a recent survey of Afterpay in-store shoppers, 32% of customers had never used contactless payments prior to trying it with Afterpay. We’re proud to be driving the adoption of both contactless payments and flexible spending in stores – meeting the demand for a true omnichannel experience for retailers and shoppers alike.”

Alex Fisher, VP of Retail for Afterpay

Afterpay Hits New Milestones

Afterpay hit new milestones in November 2020 during the peak of holiday shopping, with monthly underlying sales in the US exceeding ANZ (Australia and New Zealand) for the first time, reflecting the increasing contribution from the company’s fastest-growing and largest region.

The total number of customers that have signed up to Afterpay in the US now exceeds 13 million, and the total number of global retail partners is nearly 64,000, with a strong pipeline of new merchants preparing to launch in 2021.

Afterpay is currently available in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United States and the United Kingdom, where it is known as Clearpay.

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