1. Kids go shopping at the mall.
2. Kids buy stuff.
3. Kids show off what they bought on YouTube.
4. Other kids go shopping for the same stuff and more.
That is the scenario that plays out on a daily basis across America as teens and young adults go online to show off their latest purchases in "haul videos." Nearly 300,000 such videos currently reside on YouTube, according to an ABC News report, with several generating views in the millions.
Not wanting to leave all the fun to YouTube, online blogs and channels dedicated to haul videos such as Haul Videos! and Haul.TV have sprung up. Consumers going to Haul.TV can see videos listed by posting date or product category.
Retailers including American Eagle, J.C. Penney and Urban Outfitters have tried to make use of haul videos to create buzz around seasonal collections. Several have offered incentives in the way of drawings and gift cards to help get haulers excited about creating videos. A RetailWire survey from August of last year found that 57 percent believed haul videos represent a "big opportunity" for retail marketers.