» Intelligent Positioning: News, articles & updates 2011

Online Sales Continue to go Upwards

Jon — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 22:26:47 +0000

We’ve reported on these pages before that Online sales are in rude health, and the most recent reports do nothing but support that claim.

U.K. shoppers spent 16% more online this year than last year, reports Capgemini U.K. Plc.

Online sales rose 26 percent in November compared with the previous month. Which Perhaps should be taken with a pinch of salt, as November should surely always be more productive than October.

But in addition to that accessory sales more than doubled and alcohol sales rose 53 percent in November – which is good news to the whole of e-commerce sites, as these are not the usual record making markets.

The IMRG Capgemini e-retail stated that every company in its sales index, recorded positive monthly and yearly growth across every sector in November. Online sales may grow at the same rate for the next 12 months, which is he antithesis to what we are hearing on the high street.

“What’s surprising is the year-on-year growth despite the slowdown,” said Mike Petevinos, head of retail consulting in the U.K.

“It shows online shopping is more resilient than the high street in a recession.”

But the most extraordinary comment came at the end, leaving us with the desire to know more..

“Online purchases in the U.K. may account for as much as 50 percent of all retail purchases within five years” Petevinos said.

Really? I would love to see it. At the moment how many people spend 50% of total retail expenditure online? This includes cups of coffee, the late present for mother’s day and so on? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

John Lewis sees Record Online Sales

Jon — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 10:05:26 +0000

It is not all doom and gloom in retail at the moment. The High Street may be daubed in big reduction offers mixed with a certain malaise, but online seems a happier, more relaxed and confident place to be.

John Lewis, one of the UK’s biggest department stores, reconfirmed this thought. Sales at John Lewis stores rose 20% last week, compared to the previous week, and online sales hit record levels.

John Lewis said that it had seen a “significant improvement” to sales over the week to December 6, with kidswear and toys, along with home furnishings and home entertainment, performing well.

The company said that the combination of the passing on of the VAT reduction and their price matching policy had contributed to the rise. John Lewis said that it had beaten last year’s record online sales week by half a million pounds.

The biggest online sales week starts with the second Monday of December, dubbed “Mega Monday” and ends around ten days before Christmas. Internet sales were driven by demand for gifts, Christmas decorations, furnishing accessories, home electronics and toys.

John Lewis director of selling operations Nat Wakely said: “This week’s much stronger sales have borne out our belief that John Lewis’ strong and innovative Christmas products, customer service and price matching will ensure our continued position as a market leader over the festive period.

He added: “The next two weeks are absolutely crucial for us and all high street retailers but we are confident that the upward sales trend will continue.”

Intelligent Postioning will be doing a report on John Lewis shortly, to see if there is scope for bettering these figures with quality SEO. Watch this space for more details.

Is today going to be Mega Mega Monday?

Jon — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 10:00:50 +0000

The credit crunch doesn’t seem to be effecting online sales as much as the High street, with recent reports of record sales over the internet. The second Monday of December has been dubbed Mega Monday for being the biggest online shopping day of the year.

The latest Mega Monday (8th December) did not disappoint. Last week’s sales showed a rise of 14 percent on the same day last year, taking the day’s earnings to £320 million the IMRG stated. That’s a £20 million rise, with total products bought, up 18%.

On Monday more than £1 million was spent in a minute, according to Retail Decisions, a payment processing firm. Spending online peaked at 1.00pm on this ‘Mega Monday’ as online sales are expected to hit £13 billion this Christmas – a 15% increase on last year.

The second Monday has been highlighted as a successful day because it is one of the last shopping days before Christmas for online shoppers due to delivery times and being sure the presents will arrive. Furthermore to many shoppers, the Monday, at their PCs is probably the perfect remedy for the previous weekend spent at the shop tills of our busy high streets and shopping centres.

But the IMRG said that with delivery times improving, there was still time for a stronger performance.

“We may even see next Monday being bigger still, which would be the first time ever that the third Monday in December marked the year’s peak,” it said.

So today could be Mega-Mega Monday? Let’s wait and see for the results and find out whether online shopping is in rude health.

Either way we are given reconfirmation that online sales are holding their own in the face of high street malaise. And it reiterates the fact that if you’re easily found online for your key products, through intelligent SEO business could be a lot easier.