retail | Internet Marketing Blog

Stats: Multichannel commerce variations across countries, people and products

The global edition of our Internet Statistics Compendium saw a bumper update this month, collecting some of the most interesting freely accessible data published about all things digital – including social media, mobile and ecommerce.

One area which I think is particularly deserving of our analytical curiosity is multichannel commerce, and PwC’s recent report on the subject is excellent reading at a time when shopping across offline and online internationally is still a relatively mysterious beast.

by Luke Richards 26 February 2013 09:16am 0 comments

The power of phone numbers: eight benefits to Australian retailers

How many times have you been into a physical retail store wanting to purchase a product, but needed a question answered first?

As soon as you begin looking for help, you find an employee who provides a response giving you the confidence to purchase. This is usually a great experience.

But, what about the same scenario, only this time there are no employees around to help?

by Greg Randall 24 February 2013 22:00pm 0 comments

Australian ecommerce: Nine stats you might have missed

The ecommerce landscape in Australia is becoming increasingly complex and although consumer spend continues to grow via online channels, retailers and marketers are seeing various positive and negative elements emerging in the marketplace.

by Jake Hird 13 February 2013 23:58pm 0 comments

Mind-blowing smartphone stat: NFC in Australia to grow 450+%

The number of NFC-enabled smartphones available in Australia is expected to rise dramatically, growing from 375,000 in Q1 2012 to 2.125 million in Q1 2013 - a growth of 467% year-on-year - according to Tapit.

It has also been forecast that by Q4, the number of NFC handsets in Australia will reach some 4 million - or 30% of all smartphones on the market.

by Claire Brinkley 30 January 2013 22:30pm 5 comments

Will 2013 be the year Australian retailers embrace new technology?

According to many industry experts, Australian retailers need to start incorporating new technologies into their stores this year in order to better engage consumers.

The use of technology in stores has grown significantly over the past few years, and it doesn’t appear to be slowing down. QR codes on shopfronts, iPads in restaurants and businesses, mobile wallets, interactive advertising walls - the list goes on.

by Claire Brinkley 29 January 2013 22:15pm 2 comments

Personalisation and tablets will dominate changes to ecommerce in 2013

At the end of 2012, we saw record numbers in online shopping over the holidays and that is only going to increase as our ecommerce experiences improve.

This will only happen if we increase personalisation and make our shopping experience more relevant.

Also as we increase to use new devices in our day to day lives, those retailers and companies who ensure their sites and shopping experiences extend into tablets and mobiles will be ahead.

This year may see more of this especially when it comes specifically to tablets.

by Heather Taylor 23 January 2013 16:45pm 0 comments

The face of retail in 2013

With the UK being rocked by the closure of major retail chains such as video rental chain Blockbuster and music store, HMV, it's an important for us all around the globe to look at what the face of retail will be in 2013 and how shopping needs to continue to change with technology.

Some retailers like Nordstrom are already aware of the need to innovate. Major retailers can't sit back any longer and watch their competitors crumble without thinking they could be next.

by Heather Taylor 18 January 2013 16:31pm 1 comment

Woolworths and Wesfarmers become top-20 global retailers, as digital remains front of mind

Two Australian retailers have made it onto a list of the top-20 global retailers, showing that despite the current economic situation, some businesses are still thriving.

Both Woolworths and Wesfarmers made it on to Deloitte’s Top-250 retailers list, which was released in their 16th annual Global Powers of Retailing report. Ranked 17 and 18 respectively, they were the only Australian companies to have the required $3.5bn turnover needed to make the cut.

by Claire Brinkley 16 January 2013 22:15pm 0 comments

Best practices for international web forms

Nobody likes filling out forms. They are a constant source of frustration for consumers, but even more so when they fail to take account of the various idiosyncrasies in name and addressing conventions used all over the world.

I have come across countless examples where the web form has been designed without the user’s country in mind.

Simple, silly mistakes that could easily be fixed end up costing businesses millions in lost revenue.

by Guy Mucklow 16 January 2013 10:32am 2 comments

Online sales in Australia reach record high

Online sales in Australia reached a record high in the year to November 2012, with Australian consumers spending some $12.6bn online.

November proved to be the peak month for internet sales, with online retail surging by 15% and the National Australia Bank Online Sales Index rising to 241 points, up 32 points from October.

by Claire Brinkley 13 January 2013 22:15pm 0 comments