The online retail sector turned over $17 billion last year, compared with $15.9 billion in 2018. Supporting this upward trend, new research reveals consumer confidence in the e-commerce space―with nearly half of Aussie shoppers admitting they will shop more online in the next 12 months than in brick-and-mortar stores.
Parcel delivery service CouriersPlease (CP) commissioned an independent, nationally representative panel of 1021 Australian shoppers to gauge their online shopping intentions. Respondents were also asked to reveal the most unusual places and situations they’ve been in while doing their online shopping.
The findings reveal that 43 per cent of Aussie shoppers admit they will spend more online than in-store in the next 12 months. The younger the shopper, the more likely they will shop more online: 55 per cent of under-30s, compared with 46 per cent of 40-59-year-olds, and just 25 per cent of over-60s.
However, a third (38 per cent) admits they will be spending the same online as they would in-store. This increases incrementally with age: just 25 per cent of under-30s, compared with 41 per cent of those in their 50s, and 57 per cent of those over 60.
“Ecommerce has changed our purchase behaviours, with many of us now taking our shopping online due to convenience and the ability to compare prices,” Jessica Ip, spokesperson at CP, says.
“We’re seeing tech-savvy shoppers embrace e-commerce more than older generations, which could be due to retailers focusing and targeting the younger market through social marketing platforms such as Instagram and Facebook.
“However, it’s important that retailers don’t forget about the older market, as they are generally the ones with more disposable income.
“Many are turning to online shopping to save them time, too. As such, they don’t want to wait around for parcels to be delivered. Consumers should consider the flexible delivery options provided by carriers such as CP. CP enables parcel recipients to pick up their shopping or drop off their returns at small local retailers such as newsagents and petrol stations, or a parcel locker. Shoppers can also reschedule their parcel delivery online if they know they won’t be home.”
Shoppers reveal their craziest places and scenarios they’ve done their online shopping
Traditional buying-shopping disorder (BSD)―a condition characterised by people’s extreme obsession with shopping and buying―is being considered by experts as evolving into an online retail disorder, as a result of the rise in e-commerce.
CP asked respondents to reveal the most unusual places and situations they’ve been in while doing their online shopping, to reveal how shopping-obsessed some of us really are.
Some of the craziest responses include online shopping while breastfeeding in the middle of the night (admitted by multiple respondents); on the toilet―including at work (multiple); while in the bath or shower; half-asleep in the middle of the night; and while waiting for a ride to start at a theme park.
