MORE and more customers are browsing from the comfort of their own home as internet shopping continues to grow in popularity.
You could say they are ... smart shoppers.
There are many benefits to shopping over the internet and consumers are making the most of them.
Most retailers are now aware that if they do not have an online presence they are falling behind their competitors.
The internet allows small businesses the opportunity to remain competitive against larger businesses as they do not have the overheads of a brick and mortar shop location.
Shopping on the internet opens up so many opportunities.
The largest perk of internet shopping has to be convenience.
Where else can you browse for items at any time of day?
You could be shopping for something while eating breakfast in the morning or before going to bed at night.
There are no waiting queues and you do not rely upon the ever elusive sales assistant to process your purchase.
Online stores offer the opportunity to shop the world over without leaving your house.
Internet shoppers can also browse many different stores, selling the same product, without having to get out of their seat.
You can even keep up with current international trends without having to be a jet-setter.
It makes it very easy to compare prices and do some serious deal hunting.
Consumers can find better prices available online with products coming direct from the manufacturer without any need for the middleman.
Many businesses also offer promotions with discount coupons to promote their online presence.
There are amazing choices available online; much, much more than even the biggest shopping centre can provide.
Internet shoppers also have the convenience of being able to shop for different brands all at the one site.
Other benefits to the consumer include access to a wider variety than they would get by physically shopping, less crowding at sales, being able to send gifts more easily, less compulsive shopping, and privacy when purchasing discrete items.
Sending gifts to loved ones and friends is simple online.
Any occasion can be recognised no matter where the recipient is in the world and presents can be sent directly to them from the seller.
With so many benefits, it is no wonder the popularity of online shopping continues to grow from strength-to-strength.]
Everyone else is doing it
Ecommerce is booming worldwide Australia is following the trend.
In 2018 Australians spent $28.6 billion while online shopping.
That makes Downunder the 10th largest ecommerce market in the world by revenue.
Here's some interesting facts and figures (source: www.webalive.com.au):
- The Australian ecommerce market will be $35.2 billion by 2021
- Eight out of 10 Australians shop online and by 2020 one out of 10 items will be bought online
- Revenue growth of ecommerce in Australia is expected to hit 15.1 per cent this year (but is then expected to slow)
- The biggest growth segment is in online department and variety stores (29.6 per cent in 2018)
- Third-party mobile and online payments (such as PayPal, Alipay, AfterPay) are gaining popularity
- Australian online shoppers receive 2.3 parcels per year
- We are fast adopting international shopping traditions, such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday
- One quarter of Australian online purchases are made from mobile devices
- Almost two-thirds of Australian online orders (65.5 per cent) have free shipping
- Global ecommerce is $2.8 trillion in 2019 and will hit $3.5 trillion by 2021.