Ecommerce facts
Ecommerce facts and figures
A study by market research company Mintel revealed in its 2008 report on e-commerce shows that the UK leads Europe in online shopping.
The research found UK ecommerce online shopping sales were worth £12.8bn last year (2007), compared to just £9.24bn in Germany, the next largest market. France (£5bn), Italy (£780m) and Spain (£710m) lag behind the top two.
The UK also showed the fastest growth, soaring 75% between 2005 and 2007.
"The UK has far and away the most developed online market in Europe," said Richard Perks, director of retail research at Mintel. "The main reason is the sophisticated online offering of the UK's food retailers and the fact that so many Britons now do their weekly shop online. The consumer boom of the last few years has also undoubtedly played a key role, when British shoppers were always keen to spend their cash."
Ecommerce stays firm
Further details revealed in the IMR-Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index, August 2008 disclosed that E commerce online shopping spending in the UK rose in July 2008 to reach a total market value of over £4.8bn – the equivalent of £79 for every person in the country.
The Index showed that customers continued shopping on the internet despite pressures on disposable income, compared to high street shopping where July 2008 sales were down 0.9% on the previous year.
The Index also suggests online shopping is proving far more resilient to the economic downturn than the high street, where hard up consumers are hitting the shops less often, staying local rather than venturing to out-of-town malls, and trading down to cheaper goods.
Ecommerce shopping is more sustainable
The IMRG-Capgemini online sales index predicts online growth will remain strong this year as a result of tight household budgets, and "a general desire to shift to more sustainable shopping patterns". According to IMRG 56% of people think buying online is more environmentally friendly than high street shopping.
E commerce shopping is secure
An Ecommerce website is secure and cost effective, utilising fewer staff hours. Shopping online is now a way of life in the UK. If you have products or services to sell, whatever the size of your business, you should consider using the strength of the E commerce market to enhance your business.
Contact us to discuss how an E commerce website could boost your sales.
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