BRC-KPMG: Online sales of non-food goods rise 14.2% year-on-year in September

Online sales of Non-Food products in the UK grew 14.2% in September versus a year earlier, when it had risen by 8.2% over the previous year, the second-slowest growth of 2014. This is ahead of the 12-month average of 12.1%.

- In September 2015, Online sales represented 17.7% of total Non-Food sales, against 17.2% in September 2014, a 0.5 percentage point increase, the smallest since April 2014.

- Furniture saw the second-highest growth of all categories and its best since our record began, helped by the positive distortion of the Bank Holiday inclusion in the September period. The fashion categories contributed the strongest to Non-Food growth, helped by a soft comparable in September 2014.

- Online sales contributed 1.4 percentage points to the year-on-year change of Non-Food total sales in September. Stores contributed more than Online, helped by the inclusion of the Bank Holiday in the period.

Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive Officer, British Retail Consortium, said: "Although bricks and mortar shops were the stars this month with great sales strength, online is proving itself to be a successful steady contributor to overall sales all year round. September's online furniture sales were particularly fruitful with the best sales growth since records began in December 2012. Some exclusively online retailers are now opening physical shops in attempts to connect with more customers and showcase products in the way only shops with a front door can."

David McCorquodale, Head of Retail, KPMG, said: "Online sales sprung back up in September with non-food online sales increasing 14.2% as consumers returned from summer holidays and some bouts of wetter weather persuading shoppers to browse the virtual aisles rather than hitting the high streets.

"In particular, retailers saw positive responses to both end-of season-sales as well as the launch of new ranges for health and beauty products.

"Looking ahead, retailers will no doubt be putting online systems through their final paces to ensure all the channels are ready for the all-important Black Friday and run up to the festive season."

Source: BRC & KPMG
www.brc.org.uk/brc_news_detail.asp?id=2875