Shoppers make 80% of retail purchases online

Online shoppers in the UK make 80% of their retail purchases online, up from 74%, according to a new report.

The Royal Mail’s ‘Delivery Matters’ report found that the proportion of money being spent online has increased year on year.

The average online shopper spends £40 each month on clothes and 55% of female shoppers buy clothes online. Amazon and eBay are the most popular online clothing outlets, with M&S and Next leading the high street.

Choice (54%), price comparison (53%) and convenience (49%) are the key reasons that shoppers go online instead of in-store and older shoppers in particular are price and convenience driven, according to the report.

Nick Landon, managing director of Royal Mail Parcels, said “Despite consumers tightening their purse strings, online shopping continues to grow. How you deliver is as important as what you sell and a quarter of shoppers are now paying an upfront fee for unlimited delivery.

“Businesses of all sizes need to make sure they respond to this demand or risk being left behind.”