opinion

And the Retail Winner Is...

US Online Retail Recap

Despite looming fears about the economy, online traffic to retail websites grew during the 2007 holiday season, Hitwise https://www.hitwise.com reports. The total market share of U.S. visits to the Hitwise Retail Index increased 17 percent between Thanksgiving and Christmas Day in 2007 compared to 2006, according to findings included in the Hitwise U.S. Holiday 2007 Retail Recap Report.

The report also examines the online activity on specific days, such as Thanksgiving and Black Friday, where the highest market share of U.S. visits to the Hitwise Retail Index occurred. In 2007, online traffic to retail websites increased by 20 percent on Thanksgiving Day and 16 percent on Black Friday as compared to 2006. This represents a holiday retail traffic pattern demonstrated over the past four years.

"Each year the holiday shopping season represents an important customer acquisition opportunity for the majority of retailers, both online and off," said Heather Dougherty, research director, Hitwise.

"The double-digit growth rates in online traffic during the holidays have continued to garner significant attention from retailers, driving marketing dollars to the channel. Competitive intelligence becomes increasingly important during this critical period to understand what strategies have worked in the past."

The Hitwise Retail Recap Report also reveals 2007 highlights and tips for 2008, including:
  • Trends in visits to the Hitwise Retail Index and categories like Black Friday websites.
  • The most popular product and gift card searches.
  • The top sources of traffic to retail sites, including Social Networking sites.
  • Tips for preparing for next season, like predictions for Cyber Monday and insights into Black Friday and comparison shopping sites.
Top 10 Websites in the Hitwise Retail Index

by Market Share of U.S. Internet Visits

- December 2007







Hitwise is a leading online competitive intelligence service. An Experian company, Hitwise was founded in February 1997 as a solution to a new problem – only the large websites, such as Yahoo!, MSN and Amazon were being monitored comparatively, and data on websites with a more limited reach, such as Colgate, Nissan, and L’Oreal – was not available. To download a copy of the Hitwise U.S. Holiday Retail Recap Research report, please visit: HitWise Retail Data.


MAIL JoeD! - Industry Uniter, e-commerce business and EU billing resource.


Copyright © 2026 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More Articles

opinion

A Guide to Displaying Sex Dolls In-Store

Sex dolls are high-priced and visually striking, but often misunderstood by first-time buyers. Displayed poorly, they can seem intimidating, gimmicky or off-putting. Displayed well, they become conversation starters, high-quality premium products and confidence-boosting sales opportunities.

Jessica Sav ·
opinion

AI Safeguards for Platform Compliance and Trust

If your platform hosts user-generated content (UGC), then you already know protecting your brand is not merely a matter of good design or strong community guidelines. It requires systems that can verify who your users are, filter what they upload and ensure your business stays on the right side of regulators, payment processors and public opinion.

Christoph Hermes ·
opinion

How to Eliminate User Redirects and Improve Checkout Retention

Running an adult site, you work hard to create traffic and make sure your funnel is optimal, with the end goal of getting users to make a purchase. Then, right at that critical moment, what do you do? You send them somewhere else. Not good.

Jonathan Corona ·
opinion

How AI Is Modernizing Retail HR

With 21 locations, I’m pretty much always hiring. Unfortunately, the employment market these days can be chaotic, as candidates send out applications across dozens of job boards with a single click. For managers like me, this results in more time spent sorting through signals and static.

Zondre Watson ·
opinion

WIFEY at One: Brand Ambassador Serenity Cox Talks Authenticity, Trusted Relationships

Vixen Media Group brand Wifey may be celebrating its very first anniversary in March, but the imprint has wasted no time establishing itself as a distinctive new voice in adult cinema. In its debut year, Wifey captured two XMAs: Best New Studio/Imprint and Best New Site.

Christian Cintron ·
opinion

Rethinking Influencer Marketing in Sexual Wellness

Influencer marketing has evolved over the past several years, and that ripple has extended to the sexual wellness industry. The factors driving the appeal of partnering with influencers — raising awareness and expanding reach — remain just as important as they did when such partnerships first became common.

Naima Karp ·
trends

Meet the New Class of Pleasure Purveyors Making Waves

The sexual wellness industry has always evolved in response to cultural shifts, but the current wave of up-and-coming pleasure brands signals something deeper than trend cycles or aesthetic refreshes. These founders aren’t just launching new products; they are reframing what intimacy means, who it is for and how it fits into everyday life. Across supplements, toys, aftercare and even divination decks, a new generation of brands is closing long-ignored gaps — between pleasure and wellness, fantasy and function, science and sensuality, individuality and shared experience.

Ariana Rodriguez ·
opinion

How to Convert Fans Through Scarcity and Exclusivity

Nothing sparks fans’ ongoing desire in the long term like making them feel personally prioritized. It gives them a sense of belonging and sparks a level of loyalty that goes far beyond just loving your work. Forging that degree of connection, however, requires knowing how to employ two key tactics: scarcity and exclusivity.

Sara Star ·
profile

Viben's Kara Liburd on Building a Fulfilling Career in the Industry

“We work in an industry where trust, follow-through and service matter just as much as product quality,” declares Viben sales exec Kara Liburd. “Retailers today want analytics, marketing assets and deeper product knowledge, and brands are stepping up to provide that support.”

Colleen Godin ·
opinion

How to Reinvest Back Into Your Creator Business

Early in their careers, most creators necessarily focus on survival. Money goes toward basic expenses, equipment upgrades and keeping content flowing. Once income becomes more consistent, however, it’s time to begin thinking about growth and sustainability. How can you build something that lasts beyond the next release or trend?

Megan Stokes ·
Show More