News

November 08, 2013

Retailers look forward to a happy e-Christmas

Online sales are achieving record rates in 2013, according to new figures from retail industry bodies, and ecommerce sales are likely to be even higher this Christmas.

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has reported that online sales of non-food products in the UK grew 12.1% in October compared to a year earlier, representing 18.3% of total non-food sales, a record penetration rate.

Helen Dickinson, BRC director general, said: "It's expected that many of us will 'click into Christmas' more than ever before this year, and retailers have invested significantly in user-friendly websites, fast deliveries and convenient ways of buying in-store, at home or on the move. These figures are an encouraging sign that these improvements are striking a chord with customers."

David McCorquodale, head of retail at KPMG, said: "As we approach Christmas I would expect online sales to continue to pick up pace. This will be another bumper Christmas for the online sales channel, be it through click and collect or the traditional delivery to a customer's door."

Research from IMRG and Capgemini shows that sales in December are expected to surpass £10bn for first time, as internet shopping accounts for its largest ever share of all sales.

Figures from the IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index reveal the online retail market recorded a rise between August and September of 13%, the highest growth for this period in the 13-year history of the Index. And IMRG says that online sales continue to rise ahead of expectations, driven by the increasing use of mobile devices as part of the purchase journey.

Tina Spooner, chief information officer at IMRG, said: "The record monthly growth in September is an indication of increasing consumer confidence and, with smartphone year-on-year sales growth reaching an impressive 150%, it is also evident that shoppers are becoming more comfortable with shopping via their mobile devices. Year-to-date, the UK e-retail sector has grown 16% compared with the same period in 2012, and we anticipate the sector will continue to record double-digit growth during Q4."

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