retail | Internet Marketing Blog

Australia: Traditional retailers are heading online... and e-tailers are heading off

Some of Australia’s biggest retailers have recently spoken out at a conference in Melbourne saying that while selling online has the benefit of lower overheads, it is not yet as profitable as traditional bricks-and-mortar retailing.

by Claire Brinkley 21 May 2013 23:45pm 0 comments

Now is the time to embrace showrooming

A new TNS study across 43 countries suggests that 21% of shoppers use smartphones in store to 'showroom', 43% read reviews, 31% compare prices and 25% seek advice before they buy from friends and family.

This phenomenon has put the fear of God into many within the retail industry, woken businesses up to the link between the high street and internet and made retailers aware that they are not ready to service this reality.

We’ve seen Jessops and HMV go into administration in recent months and Best Buy shrink. The culprit? Supposedly showrooming.

by Jasper Bell 13 May 2013 10:09am 3 comments

Online sporting goods industry set to reach $1 billion in Australia

Australia’s online sporting and physical recreation goods industry is expected to hit a huge $1.04 billion by 2018, thanks in large part to a changing retail landscape and an ageing population.

A new IBISWorld report has forecasted that online stores selling goods such as bicycles, camping equipment, exercise and fitness tools (excluding apparel) will see revenue increase by an annualised 6.3% over the next five years.

And one of the reasons for this expected rise in revenue is Australia’s ageing population, who are focusing more on health and fitness after retirement.

by Claire Brinkley 02 May 2013 23:30pm 1 comment

Is editorial the new e in ecommerce?

Since the very first emergence of an add-to-basket logo, brands and publishers have been evolving their product content to create a more inspirational offering, one that can lead smoothly to a transaction.

However, the road from inspiration to transaction has often been a bumpy one.

by Kat Meadmore 12 April 2013 10:20am 4 comments

Five reasons why omnichannel retailing could be distracting you from success

Could multichannel or omnichannel strategies actually hold back a successful business? In this post I'll discuss the problems for retailers.

As the barriers to publishing have dropped, the amount of bad advice has increased. I imagine you've been told in numerous articles, inforgraphics and presentations that multi or omnichannel is the way forward.

Truth is, the pursuit of omnichannel status could actually be holding your business back. Time to think again. Or is it?

by David Sealey 10 April 2013 11:56am 5 comments

Australian consumers turn to domestic online retailers

Australian consumers are shying away from international online retailers if the recent NAB Online Retail Sales Index is anything to go by.

Domestic retail accounted for almost three-quarters (73%) of total online sales in Australia in January 2013, and domestic online retail sales saw a higher year-on-year growth than international, rising 28% vs 25%.

by Claire Brinkley 08 April 2013 22:30pm 0 comments

Online shopping: China leads the pack in the Asia-Pacific region

It seems China has some of the keenest online shoppers in the Asia-Pacific region, with Chinese consumers more likely purchase online than any other APAC country.

A new Mastercard study measured consumers’ tendencies to shop online between November and December 2012 and found that Chinese internet users shop online the most, registering a score of 102 on Mastercard’s Index for 2012, a figure that is up four points on the year prior.

According to the report, one of the main reasons for this rise in online shopping popularity in China is due to increased consumer confidence. Of those surveyed, only 21.4% felt unsecure when shopping online, down from 32.8% in 2011 and 35.3% in 2010.

by Claire Brinkley 02 April 2013 23:45pm 3 comments

Woolworths’ brand value soars, while the Australian gap between consumers and local retailers remains an issue

Woolworths has been named the top retail brand in Australia for the second year running, beating out supermarket competitor Coles by almost a billion dollars.

Interbrand’s 2013 Best Retail Brands report, which ranks the top retail brands around the world by value, placed Woolworths brand value at $4.57 billion, an increase of 9% on the year prior.

by Claire Brinkley 26 March 2013 22:00pm 0 comments

More reasons for retailers to offer wi-fi in stores

Rather than fret about the dangers of 'showrooming', retailers should provide wi-fi for mobile users, as this influences the choice of store for almost 80% of consumers.

A new report by JiWire, which provides ad-supported wi-fi, finds that retailers needn't fear the mobile shopper.

by Graham Charlton 15 March 2013 09:37am 1 comment

Australian group buying sites. Here to stay or fading fast?

Australians spent $504m on group buying sites in 2012, a rise of 1.4% on the year prior, leading some industry experts to predict that group buying is here to stay.

According to a new Telsyte study, in Q4 2012 Australians spent more than $130m on group buying sites and the combined revenues of the top five deal sites saw a growth of more than 9% year-on-year.

Groupon and Scoopon showed the strongest performances, seeing a combined 40% year-on-year rise.

by Claire Brinkley 10 March 2013 22:00pm 0 comments