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With consumers being thriftier than ever, it isn't surprising that they plan to shop for deals early. What surprised me was their preferred channel in which they plan to shop. The majority (84 percent) said they plan to use the Web most frequently, followed by 56 percent saying they plan to shop in stores, and 32 percent will use catalogs.

In addition, the most common way that consumers discover new products is through search engines. At 52 percent of consumers saying that's where they find new products, the medium dwarfs email, word of mouth, and even TV and print advertisements.

Demographics differ between age groups too. Younger consumers (ages 18-34) are less likely to discover products via search engines, while 52 percent of consumers age 55 and older are likely to find products via search. Also, 47 percent of consumers 55 and older cited emails from merchants as reasons they discover products, versus 41 percent of consumers (ages 18-34) who rely on mobile to make purchases. Additionally across all age groups, 19 percent of men have made at least one mobile purchase, compared to 8.5 percent of women.

These statistics highlight the need for a sound multichannel marketing and service strategy that provides organizations with the opportunity to interact with customers at every touchpoint. As mobile transactions increase and as consumers in the 55-and-older age group become more Web and mobile savvy, organizations need to deliver a consistent buying experience across all touchpoints--not just in the holiday aisle.