- June 29, 2020
- 5 minute read
Over the past few months, our clients have seen a surge in online retail sales. One faced such an increase in website traffic they had to move to another server.
Many in the industry are quick to boil this down to the pandemic. Lockdown has severely restricted our choice of activities during free time – it’s no wonder we’re all shopping online. However, this behavioural shift is unlikely to reverse entirely.
First of all, Covid-19 is here for the foreseeable. In addition to this, customers are developing a deeper appreciation of the benefits digitised experiences bring, from ease of access and speedy delivery to better deals and greater choice – cabin fever aside.
If your product or service is yet to go online, now is the ideal time to make the move. If you already have an e-commerce site, but your email marketing activity is minimal, this is your moment to up the ante.
Unconvinced? Here are 3 key points to consider:
1. The growth of online retail sales is at a 12-year high
This April, online retail sales growth soared to a 10-year high, surging by an immense 23.8% year-on-year. But it didn’t stop there.
Shoppers continued to flock online, and, in May, online retail sales growth rose by 32.7% year-on-year. According to imrg.org, this is a 12-year high: the most impressive growth rate since March 2008.
Interestingly, multichannel retailers enjoyed the most impressive growth in online retail sales, rising 53.1%, whereas online-only brands saw growth climb by 10.1%. This highlights customers’ increased appreciation of digital alternatives.
2. A strong online presence can pay lasting dividends
Since the pandemic hit, 53% of Brits say they’re spending more time using their smartphones, 24% on tablets, and 35% on laptops.
The explosion in e-commerce sales presents an opportunity to invest in a professional website that engages customers where they’re most likely to be found: online. From here, you can grow brand awareness – and sales.
In fact, research conducted by Deloitte showed that, during lockdown, one in three customers have used new brands, services, or products they hadn’t previously encountered. Additionally, 19% state they’ve signed up for a subscription they plan on keeping once lockdown lifts.
If you already have an online shop, you can respond to the groundswell of virtual interest by increasing your email marketing – a powerful tool for driving customers to your site and building brand loyalty.
3. You can get up and running fast – with the right partner
So, you want to harness all that e-commerce has to offer. Where do you begin?
Well, talk to us. We’ve designed and built exceptional e-commerce sites for a diverse range of clients – take a look at some of our handiwork here and here. Our team is ready and waiting to help you, too.
To find out more about e-commerce, you can check out our beginner’s guide.
