Consumers Using Recession Shopping Habits to Survive Christmas

LEEDS, England, November 26 - In the run up to the festive season, shoppers wanting to avoid spending
heavily at Christmas are using the shopping habits they have learnt from the
recession, for example, turning to voucher codes sites such as VoucherSeeker
(www.voucherseeker.co.uk/discount-codes), in order to save money.

According to research by PricewaterhouseCooper, there has been a change
in the way consumers perceive 'value' and spend their money, largely due to
the recession.

Whereas once using discount vouchers was not the done thing, the past 12
months has seen discount codes and living for less become the new vogue.

Over the past year, PricewaterhouseCooper found that over 70% of
consumers have traded down to lower priced and non branded items for their
groceries. 78% of these believe they got the same or better value for the
lower priced items. At the beginning of the recession, supermarkets saw
consumers flock to buy own brand products on an unprecedented scale.
Supermarkets reacted quickly, launching more and more own branded products.

54% of those polled for Verdict Research said that they used vouchers on
a regular basis for clothes, whilst 60% of people researched for
Pricewaterhousecooper had also traded down for items of clothing- retailers
such as Primark and New Look saw new customers begin to shop at their stores
and profits rise, as well as promotional code sites such as VoucherSeeker.
The customers who had traded down for clothing were set to continue with
these shopping habits.

Consumers are also looking online for discounts. Hitwise reported online
searches for vouchers increased by 47.5% over the past year, whilst
Moneysupermarket reported that over the past six months the use of shopping
vouchers has risen 6%. Moneysupermarket research further found that 38% of
consumers use voucher codes twice a week or more. Savvy consumers are now
saving GBP2 million every day, redeeming more than 1,500 in discount
vouchers.

These new learnt shopping habits have ensured that consumers are finding
even more ways to save money this Christmas.

According to Asda, more consumers started their Christmas shopping in
September in order to spread the cost, with 48% of people questioned
admitting they had started their Christmas shopping. Up-market retailer
Selfridges, who were more likely to feel the effects of the recession as
consumers traded down, opened their Christmas shop in August in order to
encourage early Christmas spending and to capitalise on tourists buying
Christmas gifts whilst on holiday.

Not only are shoppers starting their Christmas shopping early, but they
are also using discount codes for money off. 46% of people polled by Verdict
Research said that they would be using promotional codes to buy presents this
year.

"It doesn't surprise me that people are turning to VoucherSeeker," states
VoucherSeeker Director Ed Wilkinson. "The price of Christmas soon adds up.
Whether you want a Vodafone promotional code (
www.voucherseeker.co.uk/file/8c07f9b2387a79aa4860f829cdf713e7/vodafone
-promotional-code.html) or a Currys discount voucher, (
www.voucherseeker.co.uk/file/a62ac26940c49940f7f8da1eabd901e1/currys-d
iscount-codes.html) if there is any way you can save money, you do it."

(Due to the length of these URLs, it may be necessary to copy and paste
this hyperlink into your Internet browser's URL address field. Remove the
space if one exists.)

Currently in the UK four in ten people use voucher codes twice a week or
more, with UK adults handing over on average three discount vouchers over a
two month period, figures from Moneysupermarket reveal. Determined shoppers
save on average GBP56.61 a month

Analysts at Verdict Research also suggest that the current shopping
trends are set to continue even after the recession. The shift to own brand
products is set to be permanent, as could the shift to use vouchers from site
such as VoucherSeeker as consumers realise how much money they can save.

Consumers are using the new shopping habits they have learnt in order to
save money during the recession, to save money over the festive period.
Shoppers are starting their Christmas shopping early to spread the cost of
Christmas, whilst also searching for voucher codes and discount vouchers from
sites such as VoucherSeeker (www.voucherseeker.co.uk/discount-codes)
in order to save money on items. The new shopping habits they have learnt,
such as buying own brand products are set to continue even after the
recession.

About VoucherSeeker

www.voucherseeker.co.uk is a leading UK voucher codes website. It
features all the latest vouchers, voucher codes and discount codes from a
wide range of shops and top brands. Users can use the site to find the latest
discount vouchers and promotional codes to save money on many products and
services. VoucherSeeker also provides its users with details of all the
latest sales and promotions.

VoucherSeeker(R) and ClickAngel(R) are registered trademarks of
ClickAngel Ltd. All other trademarks are the property of their respective
owners.

For further information, please contact Deborah Read at VoucherSeeker:
email: deborah.read@clickangel.co.uk, direct line: +44-113-380-0891.

For further information, please contact Deborah Read at VoucherSeeker: email: deborah.read at clickangel.co.uk, direct line: +44-113-380-0891.