E-commerce sees strong gains over festive period
The latest retail results from the British Retail Consortium support the increasing popularity of online shopping.
The latest retail results from the British Retail Consortium support the increasing popularity of online shopping. During December last year, online spending grew by 18 per cent and accounted for 20 per cent of total retail sales. Meanwhile, footfall on the high street remained relatively low, compared with the previous year.
"The latest results from the British Retail Consortium reveal how consumer's purchasing behaviour has fundamentally changed," said Simon Jackson, chief commercial officer at online brand protection company NetNames.
"New behaviours, such as showrooming, mean that many shoppers browse for items in-store but make final purchases online in order to secure the best prices. In addition, as digital savvy customers increasingly rely on web-based channels to scout out the best discounts and complete the purchasing lifecycle, many retailers are looking to capitalise on the growing number of internet shoppers by offering exclusive access to discounts and offers online."
Chris Gates, director of retail at Hitachi Consulting UK, agrees, stating that retailers need to up their game when it comes to understanding the shopping preferences of today's consumer: "As many retailers face a bleak start to 2013, with year-on-year sales growth predicted to fall behind the 10 year average, it is imperative for brands to develop a strong understanding of consumers shopping preferences.
