Online sales highest for two years

M-commerce sales were up 136 per cent year-on-year in June and up eight per cent on May 2013, according to figures from the IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index. Online retail sales also grew by 20 per cent y-o-y in June, the highest recorded growth in two years, adding to other recent evidence of economic recovery in the UK.

Tina Spooner, Chief Information Officer at IMRG compared today’s buoyant figures to the ‘lowest ebb’ in economic recovery in June two years ago. He said: “The online retail market has performed above expectation so far this year, with H1 coming in at 16 per cent average growth against our earlier forecast of 12 per cent.”

In terms of sectors performing well, clothing saw a 29 per cent year-on-year growth in June, as the warm weather encouraged shoppers to update their summer wardrobes. Sales for home and garden products were also up 35 per cent year-on-year on a like-for-like basis in June, as consumers made developments to their homes. The good weather spurred Brits to plan their next trip away, with travel sales up 15 per cent year-on-year and 4 per cent on May 2013.

Oliver Ripley, Mobile Product Manager, eCommera comments: “Mobile commerce continues to power on in 2013. Modern retailers are investing more in their m- commerce storefronts, whether that is browser or app. More effort is being put into user interface and journey and the payment experience etc. making it a more pleasurable experience for customers. Secondly, users are becoming more accepting of using mobile devices to complete transactions and this is especially true for the younger, Generation X & Y, consumer types.”

Conversion rates via mobile devices increased from 1.27 per cent in June 2012 to 2.03 per cent in June 2013, as spending via tablets increases driving conversation rates closer to that of desktops.

However, the average basket value (excluding travel) in June stood at £79, down nine per cent compared to £87 in June 2012, as shoppers took advantage of seasonal promotions online – boosting online sales while reducing average basket value.

Source: Michael Somerville
Retail Gazette