Online shopping remains unaffected by economic downturn

A report by Paypal (UK Online Retail) outlines some very promising figures for next year’s anticipated sales. Shopping online is expected to be twofold by December 2011; unfortunately the same can’t be said for our high street shopping outlets. They too will gain sales, but only to climb back up the retail ladder.

Those ecommerce software based online shops setting up now have come at the right time. Online shopping is showing no signs of slowing down – much to the relief of current online store owners. There is the element of considered consumption to account for much of the success of the ecommerce trade. People are watching what they buy because they have to, all whilst spending on an even, continual basis.

The worst off shops in the physical realm are the small, independent stores which have no way of recuperating losses owing to the economic recession. If we compare this to the way online spending is expected to more than double, we are looking at a very good picture for the future of e-tail.

It’s a novel some of us will have to get our heads around – saving over spending. Where the banks once loaned money in a fairly free manner, things have changed and every penny counts if we are to keep up with the cost of living. This means putting more effort into shopping around to find things at half the high street shop price, or anything that comes with a special offer price tag.

We might be going too far in saying e-tailers should be grateful for the recession, but it’s certainly put a spring in the step of many online shop owners. With some monthly sales already in excess of £60,000 and the predicted spending increase next year, where does this leave our bricks and mortar retail chains?

The bigger retail giants are a lesser cause for concern than the smaller shops which are already vanishing at an alarming rate. Quite simply, online shopping has overtaken what was a predominantly physical sector. Virtually 9 million of us take to the internet for buying products at least once a week, according to a report by PayPal UK.

If we are to make the most of this shopping turnaround, we ought to think about what we can do to help ourselves through an economic crisis. Opening an online shop is the way to do business nowadays, if you think retail is your thing.

There’s nothing you can’t achieve with an ecommerce software package that allows you to set up your own online store – fully hosted, contract free and more besides. Join the list of e-tailers bringing home the bread and steer clear of financial struggle.

About the Author:
Steven Hickey is the Head of Commercial Development at ekmPowershop.com - the award winning ecommerce software provider and email marketing company in the UK.

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