E-Commerce Spending Predicted To Pass £10Bn This December

It will be interesting to see whether Interactive Media In Retail Group (IMRG) is accurate in its prediction for e-commerce sales of £10.8 billion this December. This would be a major achievement, since it would be the first time that e-retail sales would exceed the £10 billion mark.

The IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index suggests that 2 December (Monday) will see the highest number of transactions, setting the stage for two weeks that will witness the strongest sales activity on retail sites in the run-up to Christmas.

In the nine weeks covering November and December, consumer spending on e-commerce sites is expected to reach £20.4 billion.

IMRG also predicts that the conversion rate to be recorded across all device types in the last quarter of the year, at 5%, will be the highest for the past five years, continuing the uptrend seen in the first three quarters of the year.

The solid spending levels in the days before Christmas are expected to contribute for 15% growth in online spending for 2013. This is also the first time in three years when the IMRG expects annual growth in e-commerce to outpace the level registered the previous year, its chief information officer Tina Spooner said.

The higher number of site visitors that convert to buyers is also encouraging for retailers, and their enthusiasm is already reflected in their online offerings in the run up to the holiday season, which now include click and collect, next-day delivery, and even one-hour delivery options intended to lure the interest of the shopper, she added.