Record Cyber Monday could signal last-minute Christmas shopping spree

International logistics provider fulfilmentcrowd believes that record Cyber Monday demand could signal a flurry of last-minute Christmas shopping and a boom in traditional Boxing Day and January sales. The company, which operates a network of 14 fulfilment centres and handles eCommerce orders for 500 retailers, reported a 27% increase year-on-year on Cyber Monday of goods purchased by online shoppers. Chris White, chief delivery officer at fulfilmentcrowd, explains: “Online shoppers buying more goods meant that our fulfilment centres picked a record number of products on Cyber Monday. We saw a rapid rise in sales across a range of different goods, with consumers snapping-up bargains in a bid to save money as their disposable incomes are squeezed by extreme living costs. “In the run-up to Black Friday, total sales volumes across our base of 500 retailers were trending at around 2.7% down compared to last year, and we expected to see a release of pent-up demand on Black Friday. However, this spike came at the end of the weekend on Cyber Monday because shoppers were holding out for the best sales promotions and discounts. “Shoppers are more price-sensitive and value driven than ever before and are willing to wait for price cuts. For this reason, we believe there’s a large number of shoppers holding out for last-minute sales ahead of 25th December, as well as consumers saving their money to bag some big bargains in the Boxing Day and January sales.” While fulfilmentcrowd experienced overall demand from shoppers across the UK, it also reported a 9% increase in items being purchased on Cyber Monday by shoppers across the EU. In addition to its seven UK centres, the company operates a network of seven fulfilment centres in France, Germany, and Holland, as well as the US, enabling UK-based eCommerce retailers to effectively sell goods to customers beyond UK shores. Chris added: “We saw an increase in goods being bought by EU shoppers because UK eCommerce retailers are making more effort to expand their target markets. They’re looking to spread risk and grow sales by reaching a larger pool of potential customers outside of the UK. We’re helping make this possible for them through a network of fulfilment centres that minimises the costs and complexities of Brexit. For many UK eCommerce retailers, it can be as easy to sell to customers in Manchester as those ordering from Munich.”