Online shopping continues to grow in the UK, with £5.3 billion spent online during May; a year-on-year increase of 18%. However, Brits are preferring to make lots of small purchases rather than big investments, according to the latest data from the IMRG and Capgemini. Here, key figures form the UK ecomerce industry share their experience of last month’s trading.
Cameron McLean, general manager for merchant services at PayPal UK, said: “Online retail is continuing to flourish with Brits spending a staggering £5.3 billion online in May, an increase on the amount spent online in April. More and more retailers are adopting a multi-channel approach to their shopping platforms which has led to a 23% year-on-year rise in performance, demonstrating the benefits of giving consumers the flexibility of shopping when they want and how they want.
“The PayPal UK Online Retail Report 2010 found that over two thirds (71%) of shoppers think the best deals are available online with an additional 66% saying their money goes further when shopping online. Multi-channel is important for shoppers in terms of advantages of online and offline shopping. With many online shoppers still seeing the best value online and online retail sales figures increasing, a strong multi-channel retailing strategy is essential for businesses to not only offer a range of options for shoppers but also to attract new shoppers.”
Russ Carroll, UK Managing Director of Shopping.com, comments: “The fashion bug appears to have hit British consumers as demand for clothing and shoes continue to drive strong growth in the e-retail market. More and more of the high street fashion brands are turning to the internet to spearhead choice and convenience for consumers. At the same time, savvy shoppers are enjoying the benefits of having access to more of the high street online, making it increasingly more convenient for consumers to compare options and get the best value for money.”
Angus McCarey, UK Retail Director for eBay, commented: “The state of the economy means that value-conscious consumers are continuing to look online for the best fashion deals. Fashion remains one of our best performing categories, with around 4 million visitors every month to our site.
“Accessing that volume of potential customers is a key reason why many high street brands are choosing to sell in different places and in different ways online outside of their own websites. Only last month, we saw leading sports retailer Sports Direct joining the 100 high street brands which already sell through eBay.”
Chris Nixon, MD for Kelkoo Travel, says: “This month’s index looks promising for the travel industry, with travel spend showing a 12% year on year increase. Interestingly, UK holiday makers are spending almost a third more on individual bookings, totalling £869. This 30% rise could be attributed to the growing all inclusive market as travellers want the peace of mind of one set payment for the entire holiday, particularly when faced with the expense of the Euro zone.
“This gives consumers reassurance that they don’t have to worry about additional costs when they reach their destination, making holidays much easier to budget for. Research suggests that these packages now account for 37% of the UK travel market, a trend which we expect to continue throughout 2011 as people continue to fight against a tough economic climate in the UK.”
Source: www.imrg.com