Layways Make a Comeback

Though the popularity of the layaway has declined since its hey day during the Great Depression, layways are regaining the spotlight this holiday season. As credit has tightened and as consumers have become more conscious of taking on debt, layway is becoming a popular alternative for both retailers and consumers alike. Major retailers - such as Kmart, Sears, Burlington Coat Factory, as well as, online players such as eLayaway.com - have expanded or reinstated layway programs to attract budget conscious consumers and those with limited access to credit.

Consumers, in turn, have taken advantage of these expanded programs. As we see in the Google Insights for Search chart below, search interest is trending well above last year, up 60 percentage points.

If you offer a layaway program, be sure to advertise on appropriate keywords and include offers in your ad text.

Posted by Eric Lopez, the Google Retail Team