Internet sales continue to rise!

In another report of retail sales for the year end holiday season, Internet sales have again risen faster than retail sales in brick & mortar stores.

For a number of years now, quarterly Internet sales for the fourth quarter, the biggest retail quarter due to the holidays, have risen more than 25% over prior year sales. The current year is no exception!

Shopper behavior is contributing to the growth. Shoppers are making larger purchases over the web, and shoppers are beginning to execute more spontaneous purchases. This indicates that shoppers are really browsing on the web in the same way that they have always done in stores.

Other factors also contribute to this growth. Many more shoppers have broadband access, which makes the experience much more satisfying. Retailers are doing a better job of marketing their wares, becoming more sophisticated about offering complementary purchases, suggesting other items that might interest the consumer. And, finally, purchasing security has been improved, making consumers more comfortable with their transactions.

We provide a free weekly Internet marketing clinic to help small business owners and operators to understand how to make use of the Internet to promote their businesses.