Online Shopping Figures For the UK
The market for online retailers has been growing continuously since its humble beginnings. This is particularly evident in the UK where ecommerce is responsible for 20% of all retail sales.
Many consumers use online shopping to research brands before purchasing and 45% of them prefer to “buy online, then pick it up in stores”. This is a change in consumer habits that brick-and mortar shops must be aware of.
1. Online sales of retail in the UK
It’s hard to deny that sales of online retail in the UK have seen a significant increase in the last few years. In fact, according to 2023 statistics the B2C market for e-commerce is set to hit almost $120 billion by next year. This growth is fueled by shifting consumer habits and the use of digital transformation technologies by retailers. As a result bricks and Vimeo mortar shops are losing popularity as more consumers are turning to online stores for their purchases.
With this in mind, it’s essential for both omni channel and pureplay retailers to know what motivates customers to purchase online. To assist you in this, we’ve compiled an assortment of sales figures and statistics that are both eye-opening as well as shocking.
Of all the sectors of retail of which Fashion Illustration Portfolio is the most popular, accounting for 28 percent of all sales made through e-commerce in the UK. This is probably due to the wider range of items accessible and the convenience of being capable of trying on clothes without leaving home. Electronics is the second most popular with 16% of online sales. This is likely because of the constant need for new gadgets as well as the desire to stay up-to-date with the most recent technology. Online sales of hobbies and leisure products account for 15% of all online sales.
When asked why they shop online, 57% of respondents mentioned convenience. This is followed by 48% who cited price comparison and 37% said they were seeking special deals or discounts. These findings suggest that consumers in the UK are less price driven than their European counterparts and are more focused on convenience and a wide selection of products.
2. Online shopping in the UK
Shopping online has become a daily part of life for many UK residents. Whether it’s to buy groceries, electronics, or fashion – almost half of UK residents over the age of 65 have made a purchase online in the past year alone. With a wide variety of payment options available customers can also decide the time and date they would like their purchases to be delivered.
While there are many reasons for online shoppers to shop Some of the most popular are convenience, price, and availability. In fact 57% of online shoppers mention convenience as the primary reason for their shopping habits. Another 48% cited lower prices and 37% mentioned a greater selection of choices.
UK consumers are also becoming more environmentally conscious with regards to their online shopping habits. For example, 79 percent of UK online shoppers report recycling boxes and other packaging materials from their purchases. They can decide to take action if their purchases are not packaged in an eco green manner.
In addition to decreasing their environmental impact, some customers are also seeking to make their shopping experiences more personal. For example 35 percent of UK consumers have purchased clothes, footwear, and accessories from a retailer that has their size information stored. This allows them to avoid the return process, and to get what they want quicker.
It is interesting to know that UK shoppers have been reported to be more eager than ever before to wait for online orders. This could be because UK shoppers are more accustomed to the slower delivery time and know how long it takes to receive an item via the mail.
3. Online shopping in the UK by age group
Shopping online is a huge hit in the UK. Clothing and accessories are among the most sought-after purchases followed by groceries and media such as movies and music. Online shopping is also popular in the UK during the annual Black Friday and Christmas sales. These events are extremely practical for shoppers. It is also easy to compare prices and products on the internet when making these kinds of purchases.
It is crucial to remember that online shoppers are diverse, which is why it is crucial for e-commerce businesses to understand what their target market is looking for when they purchase products. It is also crucial to know how much time each segment of customers spends online. The younger generation, for example is more likely to use mobile devices to shop than other groups. This is due to the fact that this age group is very time-poor and will use multiple devices to complete online tasks.
The older generation tends to be more conservative in their purchasing habits and less influenced by online advertising. They also tend to go to stores in the high street to see and touch products before making an purchase. However, this doesn’t mean they won’t buy online. The convenience and ease of shopping online are still very appealing.
Another interesting aspect to consider when shopping online is that older generations are more likely than younger generations to anticipate and expect free shipping on all their purchases. They are also more likely to drop carts if shipping costs seem excessive. Furthermore, as many as 61% of people over 55 say they’ll add more items to their cart in order to get the threshold of free delivery.
4. Online shopping in the UK according to gender
In the UK both genders are equally likely to shop online. However women are more likely to make large purchases, like electrical appliances or furniture than men. Both groups are also more likely to purchase fashion as well as health and beauty as well as home and garden and consumer electronics.
In addition, UK consumers are increasingly looking for businesses that are environmentally-friendly and community-based. Studies have revealed that 70% of consumers are influenced by the way a retailer responded to the COVID-19 pandemic with 69% of these seeking out brands that are supportive of and are in close contact with their local communities.
Shoes and clothing are among the most sought-after items to buy online in the UK. In fact, a whopping 62 percent of female British online shoppers purchased these items in the year 2020. Online sales are not limited to clothing. Other items like jewellery, kitchenware and sports equipment are also available.
Online shopping is becoming increasingly popular to find the best deals. In fact, some analysts predict that online sales will account for nearly 1/3 of all retail sales by 2024.
While some retailers struggle to keep up with the growth in online sales, others are thriving. Particularly the online market is booming for health, fashion, beauty gardening, home and garden and consumer electronic.
The trend of purchasing these items online is likely to continue to grow in the years ahead. As the number of people who use the internet continues to grow it is expected that online shopping will become more popular in the near future. With the increasing popularity of this method of shopping, it is important for retailers to ensure their websites are optimized for mobile devices and that they provide a secure and easy checkout process.
5. Online shopping in the UK by region
The UK is one of the most important European online marketplaces. When shopping online the British consumers are influenced primarily by price, convenience and chew treats for small dogs (https://vimeo.com/) the variety of items. These factors make it a great location for retailers looking to improve their web presence and provide a seamless shopping experience.
During the COVID-19 epidemic, online sales increased significantly as consumers opted for safe and convenient alternatives to store purchases. This trend has continued following the outbreak as consumers continue to buy online as an alternative.
Shopping online is a significant component of UK retail, and some estimates suggest that it will account for one-third of sales by 2024. This is due to the growing popularity of e-commerce among consumers and advances in technology.
57% of UK online shoppers say that convenience is the main reason why they shop online. The 48 percent who claim it’s easier to find bargains and special offers and the 37% who claim that there’s a greater selection of products online are closely behind. This contrasts with Europe, where a greater percentage of shoppers said that lower prices were the primary reason for their choice to shop online.
Consumers are also open to trying new brands and products when they shop online. Nearly 25% of shoppers online have bought items they’ve never seen in a store previously, and a majority are eager to try new items when purchasing from the marketplaces like Amazon. UK shoppers are in love with the buy now and pay later checkouts. 29 percent of buyers who shop online have made use of this option during the last year.
In addition to this, a strong online return policy is a vital aspect of the online shopping landscape for the UK. The majority of shoppers (59%) will research the return policy of a retailer prior to purchasing, and more than half will expect the retailer to be responsible for arranging and paying for return shipping.
