E-retail market 'booming'

20/08/2008

The online retail sector is booming, according to a new Verdict Research report that may be of interest to those investing in e-commerce web design.

According to the publication, the online retail market expanded by 35 per cent between 2006 and 2007, growing at a significantly faster rate than the retail industry in general.

Furthermore, the report predicted that the electrical and grocery categories, which currently dominate the e-commerce market, will continue to be the most valuable sectors online in 2012.

Verdict Research also noted that a growing proportion of online shoppers now fall into the C2 and DE social groups, thanks to the lower cost of broadband.

Meanwhile, a recent BT study suggested that retailers need to do more to make their websites accessible via mobile handsets as an increasing number of shoppers use their phones when searching for online information about goods and services, particularly with respect to prices and special offers.