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Wednesday November 5th 2008

Online sales in groceries and fashion experience rapid growth

Archived article dated Wednesday November 5th 2008

Yet nearly a quarter of UK internet-users have still never bought anything online.

The level of customers purchasing groceries and clothing online has undergone dramatic growth in recent years, according to BT's 21st Century Life Index. These findings form part of a study undertaken on behalf of BT to explore how technology has touched every aspect of our lives in the UK over the last 10 years.

When it comes to shopping, 19 per cent of today's internet users have purchased their groceries online, compared with zero back in 1998. The growth in online clothing retailing is even more dramatic with over a third (34 per cent) of internet users now having bought clothing online, compared with zero per cent a decade ago. These findings into our modern buying habits are revealing, but most surprising of all is the fact that today, nearly a quarter (22 per cent) of internet users have still never shopped online.

Overall, the number of people regularly buying online and trusting it for purchasing advice is clearly on the rise, 41 per cent consider themselves regular online shoppers, compared with just two per cent a decade ago. A third of internet-users (33 per cent) have read online product and service reviews in the last three months and six per cent have written them.

Laurie Bowen, managing director, commercial & brands, BT Global Services UK, comments: “It is staggering that nearly a quarter of internet-users have never made a purchase online of any sort, especially in light of the well publicised cost savings and increased choice that can be found on the net.

“As the war for consumer wallet share intensifies, particularly in areas like the weekly shop, the internet will become a vital battleground. Retailers will have to work hard to ensure that their deals and promotions in-store are also attractive and competitive online.”

Tagged as: internet | online | ecommerce

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