Afterpay said on Monday (Jan. 4) that the average basket size for its customers in the U.S. rose by 30 percent in a comparison of the 2020 and 2019 holiday shopping seasons, according to an announcement.
The buy now, pay later (BNPL) payments company also said it experienced a 145 percent year-over-year spike in referrals to global retailers from its shop directory, according to the announcement.
Afterpay said pajamas, thermal knits and socks from Old Navy led its list of most purchased merchandise this season. The firm reported that Crocs, following a #StrapBack TikTok challenge rolled out in conjunction with it last autumn, were a favorite as well.
Slippers and fleece-lined boots were also popular purchases as “we headed into colder winter months,” Afterpay noted.
"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,” Shakaila Forbes-Bell, Afterpay's resident consumer psychologist, said in the announcement.
Shoppers could choose to purchase for the holidays with Afterpay through eCommerce and brick-and-mortar stores since the retailer’s collection of in-store retailers expanded during the season.
"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 VP of Retail Alex Fisher said in the announcement. "Afterpay is at the forefront of these safe and seamless shopping experiences."
Afterpay reported that customer demand for its in-store offering keeps expanding quickly. Over 2 million shoppers have set up the Afterpay Card to shop in-person as of the time the offering went live in autumn of last year.
The news comes as Afterpay announced that it facilitated $1 billion in sales in U.S. for the month of November, powered in part by Cyber Monday and Black Friday shopping.
