Australian shoppers research online before they purchase.
Half of Australian shoppers research their purchase online before going to the store to buy. In the first major study to understand shopper behaviour online in Australia, the Australian Centre for Retail Studies (ACRS) found that 50% of Australians turn to the Internet to research products and compare prices. 1,200 random phone interviews were conducted by the ACRS in December 2007, targeting those who had purchased consumer electronics, computers, gaming or entertainment products in the previous fortnight.
Even though the vast majority of shoppers eventually purchased in the offline stores of Australia’s largest retailers, they still relied on online information to help them make their purchasing decision.
The Internet was the most used source of information across the entire survey. Further, 25% of the shoppers surveyed described the Internet as “the most crucial” source of information – more than TV, radio, brochures and catalogues combined.
Ask your shoppers if they researched online before coming into your store; chances are that more than half did.
In light of these statistics, retailers cannot afford to ignore the latest retail technology trends and point-of-purchase systems emerging in the retail market, many of which were showcased at this year’s Retail Expo Australasia on 12-14 August at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre in Darling Harbour.
Retail Expo 2009 will be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on 11-13 August 2009, and will showcase the latest trends, strategies and concepts in retailing across national and international markets. Other product areas include: Retail Technology; Eco Retailer; Security Technology; Business Services; Digital Signage; and Visual Merchandising.
“It’s essential for retailers to remember that it’s not only great products that guarantee product sales. Aesthetically attractive and creative product presentation, online and offline, plays an equally important role in successful retail environments,” said Peter O’Flynn, Exhibition Manager, Retail Expo Australasia.
