BBC News recently reported new data supporting that UK internet sales continue to out perform the rest of the UK market. Referring to a CapGemini report, UK online sales increased over 50% in the 3 months before Christmas compared with the previous year with electronics and clothing performing especially well. Internet share of retail spend grew from 10 to 15% over the year.
A CapGemini spokesperson said 'There can be no doubt (that) online is growing its share at the expense of bricks and mortar retailers and we believe this trend will continue.'
Argos reported online sales were up a third and now accounted for nearly a quarter of their sales. Waterstones internet sales doubled and a slowing M&S saw internet sales up 78% in the last quarter of 2007 compared with the previous year.
This report confirms the finding in my earlier blogs
Lessons for UK businesses (large or small)
- Overall the UK market & most other countries are expected to have a difficult time in 2008, but all indicators continue to show that online continues to out-perform the market. How well are you set up to compete online?
- Does your web site deliver real value to your business?
- Does it effectively attract target prospects?
- Does it effectively convert web visitors to valuable customers, (either directly or indirectly)?
- Does it effectively increase customer lifetime value by getting more customers to spend more, more often and over a long period?
- If not, you should be seriously reviewing how to improve your website performance across these areas. If you don't have the expertise in-house to do this, then use an external web marketing specialist with a successful track record. It will be worth it.
Peter Hawtin is an internet marketing consultant with UK web marketing agency Brand New Way which helps companies to attract and retain valuable customers online.
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