Online retail is up by 11 per cent as compared to pre-pandemic times, says a recent report, indicating the online retail market is stabilising from volatile peaks seen during peaks of the pandemic.
According to analysis from Mention Me, which tracks online sales and referrals, food and drink sales, one of the biggest growth sectors during the pandemic, continues to lead online retail with 20 per cent gain. The platform’s Retail Insights team compared data trends since 2020 across key sectors to identify long-term trends in the market.
During lockdown, consumers were stocking up on online food deliveries, tasty treats and gourmet meal kits for convenience sake. However, it seems the online buying has clearly developed a legion of fans after their surge in popularity during the pandemic.
Beauty is the top performing sector compared to pre-pandemic levels, up 26 per cent from Q1 2020. Meanwhile, home and garden was up 9 per cent, similarly suggesting a permanent shift to online even for bigger ticket items.
Interestingly fashion, normally a bellwether for the sector, was down -5.3 per cent. However, conversions from referrals (purchase rate) increased by 4 per cent, suggesting online shoppers are more reliant on suggestions from friends and family when not shopping in-store.
“Our figures suggest the market is stabilising after being rocked by volatility over the past two years.. The eCommerce market is significantly bigger today than at the start of 2020; lockdown has permanently shifted both consumer habits and how brands operate and build advocacy,” reports quoted Simon Dring, Head of Retail Insights at Mention Me, as saying.
To use this website you must be aged 18 years or over. Please verify your age before entering the site.
