news release
UK consumers to spend 375 million hours shopping online in December 2012 with 17 million of these on Boxing Day alone
London, 20 December 2012 - Experian, the global information services company and IMRG the UK’s industry association for e-retail have today revealed online retail predictions for this year’s festive season. Insights taken from the combined datasets of Hitwise, Experian’s online competitive intelligence tool, and the IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index show that Christmas 2012 will be the biggest and busiest ever for online retailers in the UK. Visits to UK retail websites are expected to reach 126 million on Wednesday 26th December, 31 per cent up on 2011 and an increase of 14 million visits from the recent record breaking Cyber Monday. Consumers are expected to spend £472.5 million on Boxing Day as they snap up sales bargains.
According to Experian and IMRG:
Boxing Day will be the busiest online shopping day in the UK with 126 million online visits
How does this compare to December 2011 overall?
How is Christmas Eve different this December?
“Christmas 2012 is on track to be another record-breaker for online retail, outstripping 2011 on all fronts,” commented James Murray, Digital Insight Manager at Experian Marketing Services. “The current market trends suggest that in the UK, Wednesday 26th December will be the biggest day for online retail, with an estimated 126 million visits to online retail outlets and a massive 17 million hours spent online shopping on this day alone. This will be the peak of online shopping in the UK so marketers need to make sure their campaigns are in place to maximise traffic on Boxing Day as consumers make the most of early sales offers: it’s not too late to promote special offers through email and social media. Understanding what people are interested in, the best channels to engage customers through and when to reach them will be crucial to success this season.”
Andrew McClelland, Managing Director at IMRG, commented: “The post-Christmas sales period actually starts on Christmas Eve online and, judging by these forecasts, it certainly finds a willing audience. Accessing retailer websites through always-on devices such as smartphones and tablets provides consumers with an easy way to check about returning a gift, or download digital content directly onto that device. Indeed, retailers have been telling us that tablet devices are among the biggest sellers this year. As consumers encounter a range of discounts and offers already available in the sales on these sites, it is not surprising that consumers will spend over £300 million even on Christmas Day itself this year; online, the Christmas shopping never really stops.”
Chris Webster, Head of Retail Consulting and Technology at Capgemini: “Online tills will be ringing all the way from Christmas Eve to Boxing Day, including a massive £300 million spent on Christmas morning itself. Christmas Day will see a surge in online sales as new tablets and smartphones are put through their paces and vouchers are cashed in for virtual goods such as movies and music. This year we’re as likely to be downloading Queen’s Greatest Hits as watching the Queen’s speech.
“Online discounts are not yet at last year’s levels as retailers play a waiting game. Instead we’re seeing discounts directed at individual customers. As a result many shoppers are learning the benefits of patience, waiting for the Christmas Eve sales before getting the party started early. The busiest day will again be Boxing Day with a 50 per cent rise in online traffic as deep discounting is used to clear out remaining stock.”
1All forecasts for retail spend include auction traffic from sites such as eBay.
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Notes:
Experian Hitwise Methodology: Based on UK internet data from an Experian Hitwise sample which monitors a quarter of the UK online population. The predictions are based on forecasts from internet growth over the last 12 months and historic visits data over the last two years.
The IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index is the primary performance indicator of the UK’s online retail industry. Launched in April 2000, the Index tracks ‘online sales’, which are defined as ‘transactions completed fully, including payment, via interactive channels’ from any location, including in-store. Around one hundred e-retailers now regularly contribute data to the Index.
Contacts:
Alexandra Banks
PR Manager, Marketing Services UK&I
Tel: 07966 102 823
Email: alexandra.banks@uk.experian.com
Andy Mulcahy
Head of Communications, IMRG
Tel: 0207 716 5607 / 07885 845 195
Email: press@imrg.org
About Experian Marketing Services
Experian Marketing Services delivers best-in-breed customer data and insight, digital-marketing technologies and data management services into multiple regions around the globe. By helping marketers more effectively target and engage their best customers with meaningful communications across both traditional and digital media, Experian Marketing Services enables organisations to encourage brand advocacy while creating measurable return on marketing investment.
For more information, visit http://www.experian.co.uk/business-services/marketing-services.html
About Experian
Experian is the leading global information services company, providing data and analytical tools to clients around the world. The Group helps businesses to manage credit risk, prevent fraud, target marketing offers and automate decision making. Experian also helps individuals to check their credit report and credit score, and protect against identity theft.
Experian plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (EXPN) and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 index. Total revenue for the year ended 31 March 2012 was US$4.5 billion. Experian employs approximately 17,000 people in 44 countries and has its corporate headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, with operational headquarters in Nottingham, UK; California, US; and São Paulo, Brazil.
For more information, visit http://www.experianplc.com.
About IMRG
IMRG (Interactive Media In Retail Group) is the UK’s industry association for e-retail. Formed in 1990, IMRG is setting and maintaining pragmatic and robust e-Retail Standards to enable fast-track industry growth, and facilitates its community of members with practical help, information, tools, guidance and networking. The strength of IMRG is the collective and co-operative power of its members.
About Capgemini
With more than 120,000 people in 40 countries, Capgemini is one of the world’s foremost providers of consulting, technology and outsourcing services. The Group reported 2011 global revenues of EUR 9.7 billion. Together with its clients, Capgemini creates and delivers business and technology solutions that fit their needs and drive the results they want. A deeply multicultural organisation, Capgemini has developed its own way of working, the Collaborative Business ExperienceTM, and draws on Rightshore®, its worldwide delivery model.