Changes in the online habits of consumers see E-tailers having to adapt

Thousands of high street stores have had to close down of the last year and an even larger number of retailers have been forced in the current economic climate to adapt their businesses, although this has also seriously affected online retailers too.

Online stores currently account for 17p in every pound spent by consumers in the UK and the recession is forcing the retailers to adapt their business as well.

Broadband users currently spend an average of 33 hours online each month, which works out at around a day and a half of non-stop internet access and this make the UK the largest online market in Europe.

With a drop in the disposable income now available to consumers in the UK many have now had to radically change the way they shop, according to research from Google.

The change in the words that shoppers use when performing internet searches is one of the main differences that has been found. Compared to last year there has been a 29 percent drop in searches for the term “luxury goods” and a 33 percent decrease in searches for Rolex watches said Google.

It also discovered that when compared to last August there was a 115 percent increase in searches for “voucher codes” and a 65 percent rise in searches for “Topshop Vouchers” as user begin to look harder for bargains.

The managing director of Google UK, Matt Brittin said “Consumer behaviour is changing rapidly as a result of increasing internet access and faster broadband speeds in the UK. This change in behaviour is accelerating in the recession. Shoppers are hunting for the best possible value by searching for sales, special offers and discount vouchers. At the same time the smartest retailers are investing in their websites to ensure the shopping experience online is as seamless as on the high street.”

Source – Telegraph.co.uk