Online Sales Report
18-02-2009
Last month shoppers defied the high street gloom and doom and bought record amounts on the internet spending a total of £4bn online during January 2009. The IMRG Capgemini E Retail Sales Index showed spending increased 19% during January 09 compared to January 08 – an amazing achievement as the general retail high street lays decimated! Within this 19% increase the largest proportion of growth was the clothing, footwear and accessories sector with spending up an amazing 32% on the year – no doubt fantastic news for the largest etailer asos.com. Capgemini is predicting monthly growth of 15% per month during 2009 despite the worsening economic climate with unemployment rising past the 2 million mark.
So online is it the future for fashion? From the comfort of the fashionistas arm chair reviews and price comparisons can take place. Hours can be spent surfing the net looking for new looks and bargains without the hassle of driving, travelling and jostling with the shoppers themselves, however scarce they may be at the moment. Any retailer who is not in the online revolution is going to suffer. John Lewis's long anticipated firm commitment to the online sales is now paying massive dividends – its true that there will always be the shopper who wants to handle the fabrics, undertake a shopping experience and try on the garments for a perfect fit but as consumers become more and more computer literate at all ages online has to be the way forward in fashion today. Lets just hope there is not some major calamity with the internet which destroys consumers confidence and faith with payments on line – if t his happens what then. The way the high street is looking there won't be much of an offering left to find that certain something special.
