As many as 40% of UK consumers expect to do at least half their Christmas shopping online this year, according to new research commissioned by EPiServer, the world's fastest growing provider of platforms that drive online engagement. The survey of 2,000 UK adults, carried out in December 2010, also reveals that 39% agree the amount of shopping they do online has increased over the last 12 months. Not surprisingly, price was cited as the most important factor when shopping online, however, the survey also shows UK shoppers are more savvy when it comes to buying on the web. Almost half (45%) say they check more than one site to compare prices and products before making a purchase and around a third (35%) will search for a voucher or discount code before committing to buying.
Women appear to be the most savvy when it comes to bagging a bargain online, with 39% checking for a voucher or discount code before purchasing, compared to just 29% of men. They are also much more likely than men to compare prices across sites, with almost half of women (48%) hunting bargains, while 61% of men don't bother.
Neal Perry, UK Country Manager, EPiServer, said: "It's no surprise that online shopping has increased, the fact that two in five consumers will buy more than half their Christmas goods over the web underlines how fundamental the web has become for British consumers. While this is positive for British retailers, the survey also reveals a critical challenge, with a significant number of consumers shopping around and comparing products before making a purchase. To convince these savvy shoppers to buy, retailers need to deliver an engaging and satisfying online experience, otherwise they'll merely migrate to the competition."
For more information:
Maria Wasing
VP of Marketing Europe
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About EPiServer
EPiServer connects ecommerce and digital marketing to help business create unique customer experiences which generates business results. EPiServer's platform combines content, e-commerce and multi-channel marketing capabilities to work full-circle for businesses online, from intelligent optimization, lead-generation through to conversion and repeat business.
Sitting at the centre of the digital marketing ecosystem, EPiServer empowers online and IT professionals to create superior customer experience for more than 20,000 websites worldwide. Built on .net, and supported by a pioneering partner network of over 630 partners in over 30 countries, EPiServers platform gives customers the ability to deliver the right content to the right person in the right format at a time that suits them. This approach means customers can maximize their investment in digital marketing and increase ROI. The company was founded in 1994 and has offices in the United States, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, The Netherlands, South Africa, Australia, Spain, UAE and the United Kingdom. EPiServer is controlled by the IK2007 Fund. IK Investment Partners is a European private equity firm with Nordic roots, managing €5.7 billion in fund commitments.