As a leading distributor of market intelligence, MarketResearch.com is pleased to provide insights into what retailers can expect on the day after Christmas.

The day after Christmas is predicted to be the third-busiest day for retailers in terms of traffic, due to returns and gift card spending. More than 20% of annual returns happen during the holiday season, which accounts for nearly $60 billion in merchandise. For retailers, it's crucial to push for exchanges or in-store credit in order to keep the profits generated throughout November and December. The most common returned items include clothing, toys and games, electronics, and jewelry and watches.

According to a report, one of the key attributes consumers consider when making online purchases is the ease of the return process. In 2013, the U.S. Postal Service handled 3.2 million returns in the two weeks that followed Christmas. In 2014, 62% of consumers returned an item bought online.

The time immediately after Christmas is not just for returns. As many as 65% of consumers say they do not return items after Christmas. It is during this time many take advantage of after Christmas sales and use their gift cards.

According to a blog MarketResearch.com published this month, total spending on gift cards is expected to reach $25.9 billion during the 2015 holiday season. Many shoppers who use gift cards over spend their balance, meaning that they buy merchandise that costs more than their gift card holds. This allows the business to earn additional revenue from these customers.