As we head into the busiest shopping season of the year, one new survey shows online shopping is about to become the number one choice for shoppers.
The accounting firm Deloitte reports 47 percent of those polled said the internet would be their favorite destination.
Recommended Videos
This is the first year that the Deloitte Annual Holiday Survey has identified the internet as the preferred shopping method over traditional shopping in brick-and-mortar stores, which 37 percent said they still preferred.
Deloitte also found that this year there was a strong link between the acceleration of online shopping and rising smartphone use.
Nearly seven out of ten smartphone owners will use their phone for holiday shopping, Deloitte found, with 'finding store locations' and 'checking and comparing prices' being the top two uses. While 45 percent of consumers said they will use social media to assist with their holiday shopping
Malls fight back
Across the country, and in Metro-Detroit, malls are fighting back with special offers and special events to keep shopper coming back into their shopping centers. Nationally, some malls are offering valet parking, free coffee, and ice shows.
Here is how some local malls are tempting shoppers with entertainment, goodies, and other perks:
*Somerset in Troy will hole cooking classes and have store parties
*Twelve Oaks in Novi is working with Microsoft Windows to create a special Ice Palace winter wonderland.
*Oakland Mall in Troy is offering Family Shopping Nights on the first three Fridays in December. They will feature entertainment, crafts, and meal deal for the kids. You can also score a free ornament featuring your family's name if you spend $100 at the mall.
*Lakeside Mall in Sterling Heights is having a PJ and Pet Party with Santa, reindeer games and crafts for the kids.
*Briarwood Mall in Ann Arbor is working with a local radio station and customers can win a pair of tickets to the UM/OSU football game on November 30. Plus, it will also have goodie bags which include Coke products (Coke Zero or Diet Coke) and M&M's which we'll be handing out to shoppers starting at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving evening at the new Briarwood Winter Wonderland ice skating rink near JCPenney.
Check with your favorite local mall to see what's cooking this year, you might find something to brighten your holidays!