60 Online Shopping Statistics Retailers Should Know in 2023
This article is part of a larger series on Payments.
Statistics show that while brick-and-mortar purchases still make up a majority of consumer spending, online shopping is steadily on the rise. And, with the lingering challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic, many supply chains are still struggling. Meanwhile, a crop of new small businesses, direct-to-consumer retailers, and ecommerce startups are gaining popularity with shoppers.
We’ve gathered 60 online shopping statistics, along with their key takeaways, broken into 10 categories:
Online Shopping Basics
1. Ecommerce sales surpassed $1 trillion in 2022
As reported by Forbes, analytics firm Comscore pegged total US ecommerce sales at $1.09 trillion in 2022. This is a 10.6% growth rate from 2021. This compares to the nearly $7 trillion of retail sales forecast for the same period. According to the eMarketer Insider Intelligence report, a “healthy job market, low unemployment, and wage increases have kept US consumers spending, even in the face of high inflation.”
2. More than 263 million American consumers shop online
According to Statista figures, more than 263 million American consumers shop online—some 80% of the population—and this number is projected to climb to 291.2 million by 2025. The most popular online shopping categories in the US are fashion and media and electronics.
3. Most online shoppers are 25–34 years old
There were 41.8 million online shoppers aged 25 to 34 years in 2022, the largest group among digital buyers. Here’s the full breakdown:
- 41.8 million 25–34 years
- 36.5 million 35–44 years
- 35.1 million 65+ years
- 32.3 million 45–54 years
- 31.8 million 55–64 years
- 26.5 million 18–24 years
- 10.7 million 14–17 years
4. There are more than 238 million digital buyers in the US
All in all, 238.1 million people in the US aged 14 years and above will look at or research products online, even if they don’t make the purchase online. About 90% of them will make at least one purchase via a digital channel this year. The number of “digital buyers” is expected to grow to 230.6 million by 2026.
5. More than 55% of US consumers prefer to shop online
A 2022 Raydiant study on US consumer behavior reports that 56.6% of survey respondents prefer to shop online rather than in person. That is an approximately 10% jump from 2020’s stats.
6. The average order value for desktop buyers is $155.75
According to Kibo Commerce, Q2 2022’s average order value (AOV) was $155.75 for desktop buyers in the US. This number falls to $112.29 for mobile device shoppers and $95.51 for those shopping via tablet.
7. The average conversion rate is 2.6%
Globally, the average conversion rate for ecommerce websites in Q2 2022 was 2.6%, an 8.14% decrease from Q2 2021. Great Britain has the highest conversion rate at 4.1%, while “other” regions (outside of the US, Great Britain, or Europe/Middle East/Asia) comes in at 1.2%. The US sits somewhere in the middle at 2.3%.
8. The average bounce rate for ecommerce sites is 42%
According to data from Kibo Commerce, the average bounce rate in Q2 2022 was 42%—slightly higher in the US at 47%, which is also the highest in the world. This means US consumers are more difficult to convert.
Key takeaways:
- It’s no longer enough to just be a brick-and-mortar retailer. There are a number of ways to add an online store component, which allows you to reach a larger customer base than a traditional retail store alone.
- Although the growth rate of ecommerce should not be ignored, in-store shopping will not completely go away. Instead, it will evolve. A hybrid online/traditional shopping experience will commence. We are seeing it happen with curbside pickup, click and collect, augmented reality, and artificial intelligence (AI) assistants.
- There’s still a need for in-person interactions, both for customers who don’t use the internet and those who do. Explore events, markets, pop-up shops, and other in-person retail activities to appeal to all groups.
- Your permanent retail store is still important. Focus on creating an in-store experience that’s synonymous with and builds on the online experience—acting as a fulfillment center for customers who buy online and pick up in-store.
Online Shopping Features & Customer Priorities
9. 76% of online shoppers want convenience
Customers prioritize convenience in the shopping experience—which includes discovering, searching, purchasing, and more. The 2022 BazaarVoice Shopper Experience Index found that customers who use multiple channels actually spend more money. On average, they’ll spend 9% more than a customer who only interacts with a brand via a single touchpoint.
10. Nearly 80% of online buyers shop at least once a month
A survey shows that online shopping happens frequently for global consumers—with 22% shopping online once a week, 27% shopping once every two weeks, and 29% shopping once a month.
11. Direct home delivery is the primary reason for consumers to shop online
A hassle-free shopping experience is the primary reason consumers buy online, with 56% citing direct home delivery as a good reason to buy an item online. Avoiding crowds, convenience, and cheaper prices also make the list.
12. Customer reviews is the top motivator for online purchases
According to GWI’s 2022 flagship report on the latest trends in commerce, 41% of online shoppers said positive customer reviews is the top motivator for online purchases. A notable 37% also cited a quick and easy checkout process, and 35% mentioned next-day delivery.
13. The average spend of an online shopper in the US is $3.46 per visit
In the second quarter of 2021, online shoppers spent an average of $3.46 per visit across retail industry sectors such as luxury, active and general apparel, health and beauty, and home and appliances.
14. Nearly half of consumers research major purchases online
A consumer’s buying journey begins online, with 59% doing web research when planning a major purchase, to ensure they are making the best possible choice.
15. Nearly three-quarters of in-store shoppers search online before visiting stores
In-store shopping is still important. However, customers look for a seamless online to in-store buying experience. Some 70% of shoppers factor in the availability of physical stores when buying. In fact, 74% of in-store buyers said that they searched online for something in-store-related first—such as the closest store near them, locations, in stock near them, hours, directions, wait times, and contact information—with 46% confirming inventory online before going to the store.
16. Nearly 50% of shoppers prioritize good search and navigation features
Forty-five percent of US shoppers cite making products easy to find as an important factor of the online shopping experience. Have a prominent search bar on every page of your website (preferably with an autocomplete feature) and set up navigation that includes categories and subcategories. Also, consider having products appear alongside related products.
Clear product descriptions and images were second in priority (39%), reinforcing the need for writing informative and high-quality product descriptions and taking great product photos.
17. 75% of younger consumers want financing options for online purchases
Solutions that allow customers to buy now and pay later (BNPL)—such as Klarna, Affirm, Splitit, and Sezzle—and offer monthly installment plans help increase online shopping sales. Seventy-five percent of consumers (mostly from Gen Z and millennials) are interested in monthly payment plans.
Learn which BNPL statistics are shaping the retail world.
18. Shop local trends continue as 70% of consumers shop small business websites
Intuit surveyed 1,500 consumers, finding that 70% support local businesses by shopping online only, or a mix of online and in-store. Many shoppers (57%) buy local to keep money in their local communities, while some like supporting local creators (38%) and local nonprofits (19%). Better customer service is also a reason for shopping local, cited by more than a quarter of respondents.
19. 27% of consumers plan to buy from more local or domestic online retailers
According to one IPC survey, “domestic ecommerce” is forecast to experience the most growth, with more than a quarter of consumers prioritizing online purchases with domestic businesses.
20. 40% of shoppers are more likely to convert when an ad features user-generated content (UGC)
UGC is a convincing content format—4 in 10 online shoppers say they would be more likely to convert if a product ad features some sort of UGC. UGC could include customer reviews, customer photos, and even social posts. Images are most important—nearly three-quarters of shoppers say images will make them more likely to buy. And 53% say social media posts featuring images are more convincing than professionally shot product photos.
In fact, as many as 42% of online shoppers would purchase a product even if it had no professional photos, as long as there was some form of UGC.
Key takeaways:
- A seamless buyer’s journey, social proof (reviews), and good website navigation are all part of a great online store. Read our tips on how to grow your ecommerce business.
- Learn how to offer customer financing and BNPL options to your customers.
- Starting a blog on your site is one of our recommended ecommerce marketing strategies. You may use it to provide valuable information for research purposes or highlight local products and artisans.
Online Shopping Technologies
21. Mobile buyers make up 65% of the population
Mobile commerce continues to grow. In 2022, there are about 182.5 million mobile buyers aged 14 years and above—65.2% of the population. This number is forecast to grow to 199.5 million in 2026, just shy of 70% of the population.
22. Mobile commerce is expected to account for about 40% of US ecommerce sales by 2024
Mobile commerce (mcommerce) revenue was expected to hit $415.93 billion in 2022. Forecasts show that by 2024, mcommerce sales should reach $534.18 billion, accounting for 40.4% of ecommerce sales in the US.
23. The average order value for mobile purchases is $97.72
While many shoppers are turning to mobile shopping, they’re still placing larger orders when they shop on traditional devices like desktop computers. In fact, in the first quarter of 2022, the average value of an order placed on a desktop was almost 50% higher than the average mobile phone order. According to Kibo Commerce, the AOV for an order placed on mobile is $97.72—meanwhile, desktop users have an AOV of $146.05.
24. Nine out of 10 shoppers believe the mobile shopping experience can be improved
It is no longer enough that websites are accessible from mobile devices—it takes more than that to succeed at mcommerce. Some 90% of consumers believe mobile shopping can be improved, with only 12% of consumers, for example, finding mcommerce convenient.
Some of the impediments to mobile shopping are security concerns (42%), pages and links being too small to click (67%), interruptions from messages, apps, and other programs (36%), and difficulty finding what shoppers are looking for (36%).
25. Digital wallet payments are now as popular as credit card payments
More than 30% of respondents in a Statista survey stated they would like to pay using their smartphones all the time. Digital payments and credit cards are now the most preferred online payment methods.
26. “Gamification” boosts engagement and encourages spending
The retail industry was an early adopter of “gamified” solutions, jumping out to a 28.6% market share in 2019; that’s expected to grow further by 25.1% by 2026. Since online shopping can lack the interactive experience of in-store shopping, “gamification” amps up the hype by encouraging customer behavior (such as spending more) in exchange for additional benefits.
For example, according to data from a recent “Gamification” Market report, customer acquisition can grow as much as 700% with “gamification.” Walgreens employed “gamification” tactics and reported an increase in engagement and loyalty by 30%.
Examples of “gamification” methods include promotional contests, spin-to-win opportunities, and tiered VIP loyalty programs.
27. Voice shopping experienced more than 100% growth in 2021
According to Voicebot’s Voice Shopping Consumer Adoption Report 2021, over 45 million US consumers used voice technology for their shopping experience in 2021, from just a little over 20 million in 2018—constituting 120% growth.
Online store retailers should implement voice search strategies such as a strong SEO strategy, product feature and review videos, and a focus on delivering a seamless buying experience since voice assistants still crawl through Google to make customer suggestions. If your business has the capacity, invest in developing a voice assistant for your online store.
28. 71% of brands believe they excel in personalization—only 34% of consumers agree
Despite privacy concerns among 96% of consumers and legal limitations when it comes to tracking, personalization is still important. And many businesses seem to be aware—98% are using personalization to some degree:
- 50% of brands use predictive personalization
- 47% optimize email send time
- 44% engage in buyer journey-based personalization
And while 71% of brands think they’re winning on this front, just over a third of shoppers agree. There’s plenty of opportunity here—36% of shoppers feel “positive” about sharing more data with businesses if it means they’ll get a personalized experience. Plus, it’s good news for retailers. More than seven in 10 consumers will shop more often with brands that offer personalization.
29. More than half of consumers have joined a loyalty program
According to one survey, 53% of consumers have joined a customer loyalty program for at least one or more brands in the past year. The top reasons?
- 51% want to earn loyalty points to redeem offers
- 20% want to save money
- 15% want to receive free or discounted products during special occasions
Key takeaways:
- Your desktop and mobile sites are equally important. Using an ecommerce platform like BigCommerce or Shopify makes it easy to create a responsive, mobile-optimized experience for all online shoppers.
- Eliminate distractions in your product images and make sure they stand out and are clear to see, even on small devices. Learn how to take high-quality product photos.
- Try to be detailed but concise when writing descriptions for your products. Customers tend to quickly scan items on mobile devices, so ensuring they scroll less when reading descriptions can help increase online conversions. Learn to write product descriptions that sell.
- Enabling your customers to use digital wallets encourages them to spend because of its ease of use and increased security (remember, security concerns account for 42% of mobile shopping impediments).
- Leverage technology to enhance the ecommerce journey. Visual search makes it easy for shoppers to find your product, and AR/VR technology allows them to have a deeper product experience—one of the things lacking when it comes to ecommerce. You can also create a virtual tour of your store to entice shoppers to visit.
Social Shopping
30. US social commerce sales are expected to reach $1.2 trillion in 2025
An eMarketer report estimated that more than half of the adults in the US would make a purchase via social media in 2022, pushing social commerce sales to $45.74 billion. Among those who haven’t made a purchase, 44% prefer to deal directly with a retailer, and 43% don’t trust social platforms with their payment information.
31. Facebook is the leading social platform for online purchases
An April 2021 survey revealed that 51% of respondents purchased from Facebook often, with over 47% of social media users aged 16 to 34 saying they had purchased products or services on Instagram.
32. Seven out of 10 shoppers are influenced by friends’ social media posts and reviews
Social commerce is mostly driven by influencer marketing, mainly banking on user-generated content. UGC has been proven to be more effective in brand advertising, as 71% of US consumers said that posts from friends or acquaintances on social media were influential in their purchasing decisions.
33. Purchases via social media are becoming more common
Younger generations are already making online purchases via social media, and it looks like this trend is here to stay. According to an eMarketer study, the number of social buyers in the US is expected to rise from 60.6 million in 2019 to 108 million in 2025—a more than 75% increase over just a few years.
34. Social shoppers care about social proof and easy checkout
Social shoppers have similar preferences to online shoppers. Of their biggest motivators to make a purchase, 50% say customer reviews are most important. Other motivators include:
- 48% quick and easy checkout process
- 44% next-day delivery
- 40% likes and positive comments on social posts
- 35% environmental-friendliness of the brand
- 31% ability to pay cash on delivery
- 31% ability to use a payment plan
And according to BazaarVoice, as many as 54% of consumers say they’d be more likely to buy a product via social commerce if they could get all the product information immediately after clicking on the post.
Key takeaways:
- Facebook and Instagram are the most popular social media platforms consumers use for purchasing online. Reach these shoppers by setting up a Facebook Shop and using it to create a shoppable Instagram page. These platforms also provide many tools for listing products and creating ads to help drive more sales.
- Mix your social content with engagement and promotional posts. You don’t want your audience to feel overwhelmed with too much marketing and advertising.
- Read our guides on social media marketing and how to collaborate with influencers.
- Consider buy now, pay later (BNPL) options like Aftepay to capture more social (and online) sales.
Importance of Shipping
35. US click and collect sales reached more than $70 billion in 2020
Click and collect is gaining popularity with shoppers, with over nine out of 10 shoppers deeming the option convenient. This is because the model allows consumers to browse and compare products from the comfort of their homes and pick up the product immediately without having to wait or pay for shipping. In 2021, eMarketer reported $80.28 billion in click and collect sales in the US, and it is predicted to hit about $155 billion by 2025.
Because BOPIS and click and collect are such big trends, many POS systems now come with those order fulfillment capabilities built-in, plus additional omnichannel sales tools.
36. Online shoppers expect two- to three-day shipping
According to Shippo’s annual State of Shipping report, the most popular delivery window for online shoppers is two to three days—48% of consumers and 41% of merchants prefer it. Additionally, 18% of consumers want same- or next-day delivery.
37. Only 10% of shoppers don’t care about shipping cost
According to Shippo, 83% of consumers prefer stores that offer free shipping. Of those surveyed, 33% would only purchase online with free shipping. Only 10% of shoppers surveyed reported not caring about shipping costs at all.
In spite of the value of free shipping to many consumers, only 22% of merchants always offer free shipping—a 10% decrease from 2020.
38. Half of online shoppers care most about free shipping on returns
Free shipping is the most important consideration when it comes to returning a purchase for 50% of US online shoppers. In contrast, 31% of shoppers care most about the ease of processing a return. Studies show that 67% of shoppers check a merchant’s return policy before making a purchase, and 92% will buy from the brand again if it’s easy to make a return.
39. Up to 69% of shoppers would abandon their carts if shipping costs are too high
Fast and free is the name of the game when it comes to shipping and fulfillment. As many as 69% of shoppers will even abandon their shopping cart completely if shipping costs are too high. In response, two-thirds of retailers offer next-day delivery—compared to just 48% in 2020.
40. 44% of retailers have diversified their fulfillment network
The COVID-19 pandemic and other global events have wreaked havoc on supply chains and shipping workflows. As a result, delays are the norm.
To mitigate these challenges, 69% of retailers have implemented strategies to be more transparent about shipping with their customers. This includes better communication about delivery promises and more visibility into shipping status and order tracking. Additionally, 44% of retailers have diversified fulfillment network locations to allow for more optimizations.
Key takeaways:
- Free shipping is one of the leading drivers of online sales. Learn how to offer free shipping on your products.
- If foot traffic is slow or your retail store is closed, then consider using it as a fulfillment or warehouse space. Adopt new processes like curbside pickup, local delivery, or click and collect to encourage more sales.
- Shop around with different carriers to find the most cost-effective option. Remember to balance budget and delivery time. You can also consider allowing the customer to choose from various shipping options.
- Encourage customers to shop by having a clearly communicated return policy that includes free shipping. Display it on your website footer, product pages, and FAQs section.
Abandoned Carts
41. 80% of online shopping carts are abandoned
For small online retailers, it can take a lot of advertising to bring new customers to your website. However, getting shoppers to your site is only a small step toward converting them into paying customers. You need them to add your products to their shopping cart and complete the checkout process. But on average, 80% of all online shopping carts are abandoned.
42. Abandoned cart emails see a 15% conversion rate
Abandoned cart emails are simple to set up and automate, and it can be an easy opportunity to seal the deal. According to Barilliance, cart abandonment emails earn an average 15.22% conversion rate.
Key takeaways:
- Don’t forget to customize the checkout experience when you build your online store. Create as few steps as possible to make it easy for shoppers to complete a purchase.
- Incorporate automated abandoned cart emails into your retail email marketing strategy. Once you set it up, the email will be automatically sent without manually triggering the follow-up campaign each time. This is one of the easiest and most passive ways to increase online sales.
- See our full guide on shopping cart abandonment statistics for more information on how to reduce your abandonment rate.
Returns
43. The average retail return rate is less than 1%
According to research, the average return rate in retail is actually surprisingly low at just 1%. However, this varies across industries. While books, cosmetics, food, and toys have low return rates, this isn’t true across the board. Clothing and sporting goods have the highest return rates of any niche, clocking in at more than 20% of total purchases resulting in a return.
44. 71% of retailers offer in-store returns for online purchases
More retailers are embracing omnichannel strategies, and this includes reverse logistics. More than seven in 10 retailers allow online customers to make returns at their physical retail locations—even though the purchase was made online.
45. 80% of consumers who return a product to a store spend their refund in the store
While returns are certainly a hassle for retailers, it doesn’t always lead to lost sales. When a shopper returns a product in your physical store, 80% of the time they’ll spend the money they get back on other products from the store. In some cases, these shoppers spend as much as 10 times more than shoppers who only engage via online channels.
46. Retailers lose $816 billion to returns every year
Returns management is costly. Total returns lead to $816 billion in lost sales for retailers in the US. For every $1 billion in sales, there are $165 million in returns.
47. Return fraud costs $10.40 per $100 of returned merchandise
Return fraud is becoming increasingly prevalent. For every $100 of returned products, retailers lose $10.40 to return fraud. In fact, many retailers are becoming skeptical of returns, even when a receipt is presented. As many as 14% of retailers expect fraud with returns.
Key takeaways:
- Craft a well-written and clear retail return policy. This will not only set the expectation for customers but also empower yourself and your staff by having a public and documented set of guidelines.
- Implement some loss prevention strategies to mitigate return fraud. You’ll also want to keep an eye on chargebacks.
- Make it easy for customers to make an exchange instead of request a refund. This can capture some of the potential lost revenue.
Online Shopping on Amazon & Third-party Marketplaces
48. Marketplace ecommerce sales were forecast to hit $357 billion in 2022
Even though marketplace sales are on a slight decline in the US, they’re still representative of a sizable chunk of ecommerce sales. In fact, marketplace sales in the US were predicted to hit $357.26 billion in 2022—or 34.6% of total online sales.
49. Amazon is the most visited online retail website in the world
Amazon registers 2 billion monthly visits in the US alone. This figure is thrice the monthly visits of eBay—at second place with close to 700 million monthly visits.
50. Shoppers are more likely to buy from Amazon than elsewhere
Not only do about half of consumers visit Amazon at least once a week but they are also extremely loyal to the platform. More than half of US shoppers start their purchase journey on Amazon as well, with 63% of them doing product searches on the platform first before doing so on search engines.
51. Most internet users shop on Amazon because it offers everything they need
Consumers report a number of reasons for shopping at Amazon when making online purchases. The biggest reason US consumers shop at Amazon is that it offers everything they need (66%), followed closely by receiving free shipping because of Prime membership (56%).
Key takeaways:
- Though Amazon may not be a core part of your strategy, it’s a helpful tool to drive online sales and build brand/product awareness. Amazon already has brand recognition and trust, so shoppers unfamiliar with your brand are more likely to trust a purchase through Amazon than directly from you.
- Consider selling a select few products on Amazon and keeping the rest exclusive to your store and website. Include extra benefits for shopping directly, like referral codes, customer rewards, and discounts.
Holiday Online Shopping & Seasonal Spikes
52. Back-to-school sales surpassed $67 billion in 2022
Back-to-school (BTS) season is still a big sales period for retailers. Total BTS sales in 2021 were $67.01 billion—this grew just 0.7% to $67.46 billion in 2022. Online BTS sales alone accounted for $28.19 billion.
53. 2021 brought the first $200+ billion US holiday season—followed by the second in 2022
After hitting $205 billion in 2021 (up 8.6%), online holiday spending set another record in 2022, growing 3.5% to nearly $212 billion. The retail sector reported more than $3 billion in revenue for 38 days in both 2021 and 2022, compared to 25 days in 2020.
Here are some more key findings from the Adobe Digital Insights 2022 Holiday Shopping Results report:
- Discounts were at record highs for the 2022 holiday season, with toys and electronics leading the way.
- Products and categories that produced nearly 100% or higher of their preseason sales were toys (206%), video games (115%), and apparel/accessories (94%).
- BNPL services’ popularity reached new heights with more consumers taking advantage of deferred payments—orders were up 4% from 2021.
54. 2022 ecommerce holiday sales were forecast to increase 15.5% from the previous year
According to estimates, 2022 holiday retail sales were expected to grow 3.3% to $1.26 trillion, despite economic challenges. Brick-and-mortar sales were anticipated to increase 0.9% to $1.03 trillion while ecommerce growth was forecast at 15.5% to $235.86 billion.
55. Cyber 5 remains the peak of the holiday season
Cyber 5—the five-day stretch from Thanksgiving to Cyber Monday—remains the busiest period of the season. However, eMarketer forecast it would account for 15.6% of retail commerce sales in 2022, slightly lower than the previous year’s 16.9%. With in-store shopping seeing record numbers during 2022 over the course of Cyber 5, this isn’t surprising.
It’s also worth noting that consumers are starting their holiday shopping earlier than ever. According to Bankrate, 25% of shoppers were planning to begin by September and another 25% were planning to start in October. Thirty-eight percent of shoppers planned to wait until November, while a mere 12% said they would wait until the last month of the year.
Learn more about results from the 2022 Black Friday Cyber Monday weekend.
56. Cyber Monday is still the biggest online shopping day, with consumers spending a day’s worth during its Golden Hours
Cyber Monday claimed the top spot among all Cyber 5 shopping days for online revenue and is the biggest online shopping day of the year to date, hitting $11.3 billion in sales.
During 2021’s Golden Hours (7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Pacific time), consumers spent a day’s worth of shopping—over $2.8 billion, which is nearly 50% more than the $1.9 billion spent on an average day in August. The Golden Hours brought in over 26% of the day’s revenue, compared to an average of 14% on Thanksgiving and Black Friday.
Did you know?
More than 80% of the top 100 online retailers offered a sale on Cyber Monday. Interestingly, discounts were offered a week before Cyber 5 and at the same discount level. This confirms the holiday sales trend of spreading out sales over the holiday season instead of offering it during Cyber 5.
57. 40% of holiday shoppers in the US considered shopping earlier for 2022
Consumers received an all-time high of 6 billion out-of-stock notifications in 2021, and in 2022, they were 15% more likely to encounter them. Stock issues have been in consumers’ minds, with over 50% of shoppers planning to shop earlier to avoid purchasing an out-of-stock item.
58. 47% of online retail sales for the entire holiday season were done from smartphones
Consumers continue to show increased reliance on smartphones for shopping. Data shows that in 2022, 47% of November and December holiday sales came from smartphones, amounting to $99.3 billion.
Key takeaways:
- Start early. Create a holiday retail gift guide and disseminate it to your customers via email, brochures, and direct mail.
- Capitalize on the holiday sale season. Think of creative ideas for promos.
- Plan ahead, and use our recommended strategies and sales tips for Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
- Offer customer financing with BNPL merchant apps.
- Improve your mobile shopping experience.
- Stay focused on Cyber 5 weekend—ensure your website is ready to handle the traffic surge and your support hotline able to take in inquiries and customer requests.
- Manage logistics. Provide multiple fulfillment options including curbside pickup and BOPIS.
- Learn more about Black Friday statistics and Cyber Monday statistics to prepare for the holiday season.
The COVID-19 Pandemic’s Impact on Ecommerce
59. Online grocery spending hasn’t decreased despite restrictions easing up
Online grocery ordering became the norm during the pandemic and it shows no signs of stopping. Even with restrictions easing up, roughly one out of every two households in the US placed an online order for groceries in 2021, registering $97.7 billion in sales via pickup, delivery, and ship-to-home channels.
60. There have been noticeable shifts in consumer shopping behavior, and these changes are likely to stay
Consumers prioritize convenience, shift to value, and will continue to support brands that share the same values.
- Omnichannel experiences, such as the ability for consumers to purchase online and pick up their orders in store, increase store visits by 80%. Global searches for “along my route” (+1,000%) and “curbside pickup” (+3,000%) are indicative that consumers will most likely choose retailers who offer more fulfillment options.
- Shoppers are also starting to spend their money on businesses with values that align with theirs. Google reports that searches for ethical brands and ethical online shopping in 2020 grew 300% and 600%, respectively. This is further validated by a 2022 survey that found 58% of consumers are willing to pay more for sustainable products. In fact, environmental factors often outweigh cost now.
Key takeaways:
- Though the coronavirus pandemic has wreaked havoc on the retail industry, it has also revealed new opportunities for brick-and-mortar stores and ecommerce sites alike.
- One advantage of being a small business is that you’re more nimble than big-box retailers. You can more quickly adapt to new trends, guidelines, restrictions, and customer behaviors.
- As more shoppers expect a seamless shopping experience, ensure that your business can adapt to a multichannel or omnichannel retail environment.
- Brand loyalty might have waned but there are still ways to foster customer loyalty and build a loyalty program.
- Now that consumers are excited to spend, ramp up your online marketing efforts to increase online sales.
Online Shopping Statistics FAQs
Online sales represent 14.8% of total retail sales. Total retail sales for the same period were $1.79 billion.
Online sales grew 10.8% in 2022 from the previous year.
There were more than 2.14 billion online shoppers in the world in 2021. Assuming each buyer makes one purchase per year, 5.86 million people would shop online per day.
Bottom Line
Online shopping statistics show that having a digital presence is critical for retail businesses. It’s more than just a place to sell your products—consumers are also using retail websites and social media to discover products, read reviews, and compare pricing before making a purchase online or offline.
Online shopping may have experienced a surge due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it isn’t going anywhere. Learn how to take your online sales to the next level.