After months of anxiety about a delayed peak shopping season, cross-border e-commerce sellers are finally seeing signs of recovery in early November. While October remained unexpectedly quiet compared to previous years, many sellers report significant order growth beginning in late October, with momentum accelerating through the first week of November.
One seller revealed their store's sales began steady growth starting October 25th, accompanied by reduced advertising costs—a classic indicator of seasonal demand. Another reported Christmas-related traffic surges since November 1st, with daily orders exceeding 600. The company, which achieved over $27 million in sales last year, expects this to be just the beginning of the holiday rush.
Historical data shows last year's noticeable seasonal growth began November 1st, immediately after Halloween, with shopping frenzy intensifying post-Thanksgiving. This year's October Prime Day event may have disrupted the traditional sales rhythm by affecting demand in surrounding weeks, but sellers universally report strengthening seasonal momentum after Halloween.
Seasonal Categories Showing Explosive Growth
Market data reveals several product categories experiencing remarkable surges in the past 30 days:
Fall Wreaths: Searches for "fall front door wreaths" skyrocketed 468%, with some products achieving 5,767% sales growth in October. The decorative items' popularity reflects consumers' growing demand for seasonal home ambiance.
Wool Bedding: Search volume for wool sheets increased 143%, with top-performing bedding sets seeing 3,973% sales growth. As temperatures drop, consumers prioritize warm, comfortable sleep solutions.
Electric Blankets: Continuing their European popularity amid energy crises, heated blankets gained 819% more searches for "adult heated weighted blankets" in the U.S. market. The affordable heating solution appeals to cost-conscious households facing rising energy prices.
Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel Tumblers: With winter beverage needs growing, these products saw significant search and sales increases. Health-conscious consumers and outdoor enthusiasts alike drive demand for temperature-retaining drinkware.
Christmas Decorations: As the most important Western holiday approaches, demand surges for decorative lights, artificial trees, snowflakes, holiday signage, and inflatable yard decorations. Savvy sellers are expanding inventories to meet festive decorating needs.
The delayed but now visible peak season presents both opportunities and challenges for cross-border sellers. Those monitoring real-time market trends, adjusting inventories, and optimizing marketing strategies stand to benefit most from the compressed holiday shopping window. External factors like energy costs continue influencing consumer preferences, requiring agile product selection to meet evolving demands in this competitive marketplace.