Savvy marketers will latch on to online Christmas rush
Friday, 09, Nov 2007 11:47
Marketers may want to sit up and take notice of a new study that highlights how online retailers are set to see a boom in sales this year as we approach Christmas.
In fact, figures from Savebuckets' website predict that the internet will overtake the high street as the main vehicle for festive spending and become the UK's number one shopping destination.
Some 34 per cent of Britons plan to do their shopping online this Christmas, which is a six per cent increase on the 2006 figures.
In contrast, the study discovered that 31 per cent of people said they planned to shop at their local high street this Christmas.
Last year saw the online Christmas shopping sector worth approximately £7.7 billion and that is set to be eclipsed in 2007.
Interestingly, it is not just the younger generation who are at ease with online purchases as middle age surfers between 30 and 50 were found most likely to shop on the internet at Christmas with 44 per cent planning to do so. This compared to 41 per cent of 18 to 29-year-olds.
A gender divide was apparent in online shopping trends also with men (37 per cent) more likely to purchase goods this way than women (31 per cent).
Many websites use targeted newsletters with tailored advertising to build up a loyal ecommerce base for their products and services.
