If you are looking for gift ideas here are some interesting stats from kalahari.com on what people are buying this festive season. Also a big increase in the number of people shopping online. Kalahari.com expects online sales growth of up to 30% over the holiday period.

kalahari.com’s  2011 Festive Season Survey reveals:

• 87.6 % of connected South Africans plan to go shopping online this festive season;
• Online sales estimated to increase by up to 30% compared to 2010;
• Majority of consumers (58%) spend up to 10% of monthly income on festive season gifts;
• 40% started their festive season shopping in November;
• Tablets  such as iPad and eReaders most coveted gift;
• John Grisham, Jeremy Clarkson and Zapiro selected as ideal literary gifts;
• International bestseller Steve Jobs: Exclusive Biography is set to compete with local favourite 7 Dae by Deon Meyer for number one selling festive season title;
• The Smurfs, Harry Potter and Starwars favourites as DVD gifts;
• NOW 59, ColdPlay’s MyloXyloto and  Michael Buble’s Christmas sought after CD’s.

kalahari.com, South Africa’s largest  online retailer, revealed in its annual survey that online shopping is set for a robust increase this festive season. 87.6% of South Africa’s connected shoppers said they will be doing their festive season shopping online whilst only 12.4% indicated that they would be hitting the traditional shopping malls  instead.

With less than 5 weeks to go to Christmas, 40% of the shoppers indicated that they had already started their festive season shopping in November and  34% will start their gift shopping early next month.

Gary Novitzkas, CEO of  kalahari.com, says  the financial constraints facing South Africans could be one of the drivers leading more consumers online for their year-end spending.