Bricks-and-mortar stores account for the vast majority of retail sales. The sector has also made a resounding comeback after the restrictions and lockdowns of the Covid-19 pandemic.
But Aussies have acquired a growing appetite for e-commerce and major retailers such as Myer have set a goal of achieving $1 billion in online sales as they continue to boost their omni-channel businesses. There has also been an explosion in direct-to-consumer brands and sales.
According to a new survey from CouriersPlease, the leading postal delivery service, nearly half (47%) of those surveyed said they will purchase more than 50 per cent of their shopping online this year. A hefty 73 per cent of respondents intend to do more than 30 per cent of their shopping online and 27 percent said they will make 60 per cent of their purchases online.
The survey included 10 retail categories, including fashion, beauty, leisure goods, toys and games.
CouriersPlease CEO, Richard Thame, noted the results should come as little surprise. “We delivered more than 30 million parcels across Australia and internationally last year, up two million from delivery figures in 2021. These survey results reflect what we have been seeing at CouriersPlease; consumers are continuing to use online retailers for their purchases, with a significant proportion relying on online retail for more than half their shopping”.
The survey revealed that younger consumers were major fans of online shopping. A high 58 per cent of those aged 18 to 30 claimed to have done at least 50 per cent of their shopping online. Older consumers weren’t far behind with 53 per cent of those aged 31 to 50 revealing the same figures by contrast to 36 per cent of people aged 50 and over.
Convenience and fast shipping were the two most prized qualities consumers looked for. “One of the biggest benefits of online shopping is it provides a quick and easy way to make a purchase without leaving the home or office”, added Thame. “Aussies can search for a product, check the price against other brands and select the most convenient delivery or collection option”.
There were also different patterns and habits in different states. South Australians topped the list as the keenest on online shopping with 54 percent of respondents saying they expected to do at least 50 per cent of their shopping online by year’s end, compared to 48 per cent in NSW, 47 per cent in Victoria, 41 per cent in Queensland and 36 per cent in WA.
A significant 16 per cent of South Australians also intended to do 80 per cent of their shopping online, compared to 7 per cent of respondents in NSW, 6 per cent in Queensland, 5 per cent in Victoria and 4 per cent in WA.
Retail is changing at a lightning pace as new technologies emerge. ChatGPT, the advanced AI chatbot that uses natural language processing to produce human-style conversational dialogue, has been making media headlines for months. According to a YouGov study, it is also offering up new avenues to make recommendations and give advice to consumers on what to buy.
A new survey from YouGov reveals that ChatGPT could have a big future in shaping Australian shopping habits. Nearly half of Australians (48%) have heard of the AI chatbot, with nearly one-in-four (23%) claiming to have interacted with it.
Of those who had used it, 77 per cent of Millennials and 75 per cent of Gen Xers aged from their early 40s to late 50s claimed they would buy a product recommended by ChatGPT. But fewer Gen Zers (59%), said they would do so.
Those who haven’t interacted with the chatbot didn’t have the same level of willingness but the numbers were still relatively high- 38 per cent of Millennials and Gen Zers said they would buy a product based on a recommendation from ChatGPT, dipping to 19 per cent of Gen Xers.
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