Online Shopping Figures For the UK
The market for online retail has grown continuously since its humble beginnings. This is particularly evident in the UK where e-commerce accounts for 20% of retail sales.
Online shopping is a popular way for consumers to research brands and make purchases. About 45% of consumers prefer to "buy online and pick up in store". This is an interesting shift in consumer behavior that bricks and mortar stores should pay attention to.
1. Retail sales online in the UK
It's no secret that online retail sales in the UK have risen significantly in the last few years. According to 2023 statistics the B2C market for e-commerce is set to hit almost $120 billion by the end of next year. This growth is due to the changing habits of consumers and the adoption of digital transformation technologies by retailers. In the end bricks and mortar shops are losing popularity as more consumers prefer online retailers for their purchases.
With this in mind, it's important for both omni channel and pureplay retailers to know what motivates customers to purchase online. To help you understand this, we've created an assortment of retail sales figures and other statistics that are both eye-opening and informative.
Of all the sectors of retail of which fashion is the most well-known, accounting for 28 percent of all sales made through e-commerce in the UK. This is likely due to the wide variety of items and the convenience of trying on clothes without leaving home. Electronics is second with 16% of the sales made through e-commerce. This is probably due to the constant demand for new gadgets and the need to keep up with the latest technology. Online sales of hobbies and leisure products represent 15% of all e-commerce sales.
When asked why they shop online, 57% cited convenience. This is followed by 48% who mentioned price comparison and 37% said they were looking for special discounts or offers. These findings suggest that UK consumers are less influenced by price than their European counterparts, and are more focused upon convenience and a broad product variety.
2. Online shopping in the UK
Shopping online is becoming part of daily life for many UK customers. Be it for electronics, groceries or clothes - nearly half of UK residents over the age of 65 have made a purchase on the internet in the last year. Shoppers can select from a range of payment options, and decide when and how their items delivered.
There are many motives for shoppers to shop online Some of the most common include convenience price, availability, and Water Feature Rain Chain price. In fact, 57% of shoppers cite convenience as their main reason for purchasing online. Then, another 48% cited lower prices, while 37% mentioned a greater selection of choices.
The habits of online shopping among UK consumers are also becoming more eco-conscious. 79% of UK customers recycle boxes and other packaging materials from their online purchases. They can take action if their orders are not packaged in a sustainable ecologically friendly way.
In addition to lessening their environmental impact, some consumers are also trying to make their online shopping experiences more personal. For example 35 percent of UK customers have bought clothes, footwear, and accessories from a retailer who has their size information saved. This allows them skip the return process and to get what they want quicker.
It is interesting to note that UK consumers are reported to be more likely to wait for their online orders than they were during the pandemic. This could be due to the fact that UK customers are more used to the slow delivery times and understand how long it takes to receive an item via the mail.
3. Online shopping in the UK according to the age group
Shopping online is a huge hit in the UK. The most popular items to purchase are clothing and accessories, followed by food items, and finally media like movies and music. Shopping online is also popular in the UK during the annual Black Friday and Christmas sales. This is because customers find these sales to be extremely convenient. Comparisons of prices and products are also feasible when making these purchases.
It is crucial to understand that online shoppers come from a variety of backgrounds. This makes it essential for online retailers to know the demographics their customers are seeking when they purchase products. In addition to this it is crucial to be aware of how much time each age group is spending shopping online. For example, the younger generation is far more likely to purchase on mobile devices than any other age group. This is due to the fact that the younger generation is time-poor, and will use several devices to accomplish online tasks.
The older generations are, however, likely to have more cautious purchasing habits and are less swayed by the online ads. They also prefer visiting shops in the high street to experience products before making a purchase. This doesn't mean that they won't buy online. The convenience and ease of shopping online are still appealing.
A second interesting factor to take into consideration when shopping online is that older generations are more likely than younger generations to expect and request free shipping on all their purchases. In addition they tend to drop their shopping carts if they think that shipping costs are too high. Furthermore, as many as 61% of people over 55 say that they will add more items to their cart in order to meet a free delivery threshold.
4. Online shopping in the UK depending on gender
Men and women in the UK are equally likely to shop for products online. Women are more likely than men to make large purchases, such as electrical appliances and furniture. Both groups are more likely to buy clothing products, home and garden items, consumer electronics, and health and beauty products.
In addition, UK consumers are increasingly looking for businesses that are environmentally-friendly and community-based. Studies have shown that 70% of consumers are influenced by the way the retailer has responded to the COVID-19 epidemic, with 69% of them looking for brands that support and are in close contact with their local communities.
The most popular online shopping items in the UK are footwear and clothing. In fact, a whopping 62 percent of female British online shoppers purchased these items in 2020. Online sales are not only limited to clothing. Other products such as jewellery, kitchenware and sports items are also available.
Shopping online has become increasingly popular to find most affordable bargains. Some experts believe that by 2024, the sales from e-commerce could be more than a third of all retail sales.
Some retailers are struggling with the growth of online shopping, while others are flourishing. Particularly the rise of online sales for health, fashion, beauty, home and gardening as well as consumer electronics.
In the future, online shopping for these products is expected to increase. As the number of internet users continues to grow it is expected that online shopping will be more popular in the future. With the increasing popularity of this method of shopping, it is important for Vimeo retailers to ensure their websites are optimized for mobile devices and provide a secure and easy checkout process.
5. Online shopping in the UK by region
The UK is among the most important European ecommerce markets. Its consumers are influenced by convenience, price and a variety of goods when they shop online. These factors make it an ideal spot for retailers who wish to improve their web presence and provide a seamless shopping experience.
During the COVID-19 Pandemic, online sales grew significantly as people sought out safer and more convenient options for shopping. This trend has remained in place post-pandemic as consumers continue to embrace online shopping as an attractive alternative.
Shopping online is a significant part of UK retail, and some estimates suggest that it could comprise three-quarters of retail sales by 2024. This growth is a result of the increasing use of ecommerce by consumers and technological advancements.
In the UK 57% of online shoppers cite convenience as the main reason they shop online. This is followed closely by 48% who state that it is easier to discover special deals and offers, and 37% who claim that there's a greater variety of products available online. This is in contrast to Europe where a larger percentage of consumers said that lower prices were the key driver for their purchase online.
Online shoppers are also willing to try new products and brands. Almost 25% of online shoppers have bought items they've never purchased in a store previously, and a majority are eager to try new items when purchasing from an online marketplace like Amazon. Pay-as-you-go checkouts are a common choice for UK shoppers with 29% of online shoppers using a buy now, pay later option in the past year.
A robust return policy on the internet for the UK is also a key aspect of ecommerce. The majority of buyers (59 percent) look up a retailer's return policy before buying, and more than half of them expect the seller to arrange and pay for return shipping.
Français
English
Deutsch
Español
Italiano
Português