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Do you already have a plan for your holiday shopping game this year? A recent study commissioned by Experian Consumer Services shows that spending confidence continues to recover, with 11 percent of those surveyed saying they anticipate spending more than they did last year on holiday gifts. Respondents plan to spend an average of $757.57 this year, up from $721.96 in 2013. People may be planning to spend more this season, but their means of payment won’t come as a surprise. A dramatic majority (82 percent) planned to purchase either with their credit cards or via a layaway plan this year. Still others (59 percent) plan to pay for their holiday gifts in cash this year, while only 17 percent plan to open a store credit card as a part of their holiday payment plan. While there will certainly be lots of sweaters, games, toys and ties under the tree, just under half of respondents plan to give either an experiential or DIY gift this year (45 percent). A quarter of those surveyed are planning to align a major purchase with their holiday gifting strategy, to truly make this a holiday to remember, while more than a third plan to make merry and gift themselves with a treat (37 percent). Is your spending plan ready for winter? “Oftentimes, people happily overspend in December, only to feel overwhelmed in January when their credit card statements arrive,” said Becky Frost, senior manager of consumer education at Experian Consumer Services. Don’t throw away the good spending behaviors you may have challenged yourself with simply because it’s the end of the year. Be realistic and specific with your budgeting to help avoid overspending, and to keep your priorities in check. For tips on holiday spending this year, see our helpful infographic below. You can also view the complete survey results and methodology here: This article is provided for general guidance and information. It is not intended as, nor should it be construed to be, legal, financial or other professional advice. Please consult with your attorney or financial advisor to discuss any legal or financial issues involved with credit decisions. Published by permission from ConsumerInfo.com, Inc., an Experian company. © 2014 ConsumerInfo.com, Inc. All rights reserved.

Experian Marketing Services’ senior vice president of global marketing, Ashley Johnston, was named the winner of a Gold Stevie® Award for Woman of the Year in Advertising, Marketing and Public Relations at the 11th annual Stevie Awards for Women in Business on Friday, Nov. 14, in New York City. Johnston was also recognized with a Silver Stevie Award for Female Executive of the Year for Business Services Companies with more than 2,500 employees. The Stevie Awards for Women in Business are the world’s top honors for female entrepreneurs, executives, employees and the organizations they run. All individuals and organizations worldwide are eligible to submit nominations – public and private, for-profit and non-profit, large and small. The 2014 awards received entries from 22 nations and territories. More than 1,200 nominations from organizations of all sizes and in virtually every industry were submitted this year for consideration in more than 90 categories, including Entrepreneur of the Year, Executive of the Year, Company of the Year, Mentor of the Year, Women Helping Women, and Communications Campaign of the Year, among others. “This is a well-deserved honor for Ashley and a testament to her ability to inspire and empower our organization to have a positive impact each and every day,” said Matt Seeley, president, North America, Experian Marketing Services. “Throughout the 12 years she’s been with Experian, Ashley’s initiatives have accelerated Experian Marketing Services’ go-to-market strategy globally and evangelized our employees around our brand while also placing our clients directly in the center of our business and growth.” Over the past year, Johnston successfully led a global initiative to bring Experian Marketing Services’ portfolio, go-to-market strategy, culture and client base under a single, consistent global brand, for the first time. As a key part of this initiative Johnston introduced progressive and differentiated programs focused on driving lead generation, client engagement, awareness and sales-enablement support. Most notably, Johnston led the recent launch of the Experian Marketing Suite, a comprehensive, end-to-end marketing solution that enables brands to create and deliver authentic customer experiences every time, in any channel and via any device. The Marketing Suite showcases the power of Experian Marketing Services’ portfolio, which previously had been siloed into four business units, dozens of products, distinct client sets and cultures. Expressing her gratitude, Johnston added, “It’s an honor to be recognized alongside such an impressive roster of accomplished and exceptional women from countries around the world. This award is evidence of the success story of the Experian Marketing Services business and the talent of my team that continues to inspire me each and every day.” Experian Marketing Services was recognized with four Stevie Awards during the 2014 American Business Awards, all for work that Johnston and her team spearheaded, including the Client Summit, The 2014 Digital Marketer: Benchmark and Trend Report, a global internal communications campaign and the cross-channel marketing platform. Nicknamed the Stevies for the Greek word for “crowned,” the awards were presented to winners Friday night during a dinner event attended by more than 400 people at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City. The presentations were broadcast live across the U.S.A., and simulcast around the world, by Biz Talk Radio, and will be featured in a television special on Biz TV in January. Stevie Award winners were selected by more than 160 executives worldwide who participated in the judging process this year.

It’s no secret that businesses are what drive the U.S. economy. The exchange of goods and services for business large and small is what our society is built on. But, did you know that big data is actually a driving force in commerce? How, you ask? Businesses rely on data — just as we as consumers do — to form the basis for everyday decisions. Experian has always been at the forefront of using big data, and over the years we have streamlined its uses to help drive commerce for the business community. Our commercial database contains unbiased information on more than 25 million active businesses in the U.S. However, data just scratches the surface of what we do. Our technology, analytical and consultative services help financial institutions and businesses (large and small) derive insights, which enable them to make more sound lending decisions, better manage their credit portfolios and acquire the right customers. In fact, in 2012, we used these insights to develop the Small Business Credit Index with Moody’s Analytics, to provide a unique perspective on the health of small businesses in the United States. For example, our most recent report revealed that small-business credit conditions have improved due to an increase in the total dollars being borrowed, and an improvement in overall payment performance. Payment performance is critical to small businesses because they have a much smaller customer base. As a result, the impact of one customer delaying payment will have a much greater effect on the business than it may on a larger company. It’s this insight that helps both financial institutions and small businesses take appropriate action. Lenders and suppliers can use the information to help mitigate risk and have more confidence when making future lending decisions, and, for small businesses, it enables them to uncover growth opportunities and increase profitability. While the importance of business in the economy isn’t a big secret, the power of big data to help drive high-impact actions for organizations is a relatively unheard of concept, despite it being around for years. Finding ways to use our data for good to help move businesses, as well as consumers, our society and the economy forward, is a primary driver for Experian. After all, the more that business succeeds, the better our economy will be.