According to a study conducted by UPS, 70% of online shoppers prefer to shop their favorite retailer online. The growing popularity of online shopping has completely transformed local retail and just as big brands have developed robust ecommerce platforms, small retailers are seeing the value as well.
The online shopping space is becoming a great way to bridge the gap between the online and offline worlds. In a recent blog post, LSA’s Wesley Young discussed delivery alternatives for online purchases that lower the cost for consumers, and also have the capability of generating in-store visits, creating another opportunity to sell.
Here are some compelling ecommerce stats that have major implications for local retailers:
- 94.6% of SMB ecommerce websites lack a shopping cart, prohibiting them from transacting business on the website. (vSplash)
- Among consumers surveyed, 59.5% have completed a local purchase of merchandise or services online within the last six months. (BIA/Kelsey)
- Half of consumers believe the best thing retailers can do to improve the shopping experience is to better integrate in-store, online and mobile shopping channels. (Accenture)
- According to a Q4 2013 study, 73.2% of visits to online shopping sites come from PC users, as opposed to 14.6% and 12.2% from tablets and smartphones, respectively. (Monetate)
- Half of respondents said it was important for retailers to offer in-store pickup for online purchases. (Forrester)
Be sure to check back next week for our next edition of Top 5 Local Ad Stats of the Week. Have a great weekend!