Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
ONLINE SHOPPING BY Irish consumers has jumped by 51% in the last year.
A new study from digital research and marketing agency Wolfgang Digital shows that online spend has picked up across a variety of metrics, and is performing significantly better alongside traditional in-shop purchases, instead of displacing them.
Website traffic among the surveyed sites picked up by 30% on average, with revenue per visit up by 17%.
According to the report, the rise is driven by “simultaneous surges in the amount of time, and the amount of money, the Irish consumer is now spending online”.
Retail websites led the way in the last quarter, with a 34% boost in traffic numbers and a 57% growth in online revenue when compared to the same period last year. It was also a good year for travel websites, which saw online sales grow by 42%.
Divergence
However, the Wolfgang report warns that digital sales can be a double edged sword, with losses for those who don’t keep up with online trends extremely damaging.
While four out of five companies surveyed saw revenues grow, companies whose sales shrank did so by around 25%.
According to the report, the fast moving digital landscape means that businesses have “the opportunity to enjoy extraordinary returns or endure sharp losses…those who stay on the right side of the fast-paced rate of innovation are rewarded with extraordinary returns”.
There is a digital marketing Darwinism evident here, and at its core is ‘get smarter or get left behind’.
Wolfgang pointed out that the revenue growth seen in the online economy is around 25 times faster than the general economy, which the Central Bank predicts will expand by around 2.5% this year.
The survey covered websites with revenues in excess of €80 million, around 2% of the estimated €4 billion Irish e-commerce market. Participants included Harvey Norman, Lifestyle Sports, The Guinness Storehouse and the Cliffs of Moher.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Nice to get a good deal online but there’s no substitute for walking out of the changing room in Shaws and parading in front of the mirror in a pair of Levi’s that are tighter than a camels arse in a sandstorm. Then over to counter to wait for the your sisters husbands brother in laws nieces second cousin who ye shifted after the county final defeat in ’84 for the staff discount.
Keep it local tha fcuk lads….
Most people I know do their shopping on line – particularly for TVs, computers, phones, holidays and white goods.
When I was in the UK, I was amazed how many got their groceries delivered – from all the major supermarkets.
Same day delivery – with only a small extra charge. Great for the old and infirm.
Online shopping is great, but it would be a shame to see the high streets suffer and maybe close as a result. Perhaps too commercial rates should be reviewed to help the retailers since shopping is all going in one direction…..
Many retailers, at least in Dublin missing on opportunity of impulse purchase.
Sometimes I see a new gadget online. I see how much it cost, and I wouldn’t mind paying a little extra in the shop to have it NOW. Sometimes, even a good bit extra. I just want it NOW or I need it now for whatever reason.
I call around stores in town and no one has it in stock. I can “pre-order it for next week” or “it’s very popular, we’re sold out”, or “we don’t stock Sony” (huh?!) . I’m ending up with NO CHOICE but go online. It’s in stock, I’m likely to get it day after tomorrow.
And I’m talking about flagship electronics now, not some rear odd vintage stuff…
Dan. Correct – much bigger choice on line. Colours, models, varieties, comparisons, makes, sources, no sales pitches/just facts, value, ease, simplicity.
A chap/chapess rings your bell, in a day or so. And says – sign there.
If you go to a shopping centre, its a lottery. ‘No we don’t have that one at the moment (what is it?)’……
Now that I think about it, there’s one more reason to but online. Return policy.
Online purchases can, by law, be returned within cool off period, even if box is open and item is used (within reason, obviously). You can play around with it and if you’re not happy – return it.
Most shops won’t let you return good once open. Which is a shame. I feel more comfortable, particularly buying more expensive goods, if I can return if I change my mind for whatever reason.
We don’t have ” high streets ” in Ireland, George. That’s a British tradition of calling roads ” High Street “
Most stock is way out of date here- hence the no impulse buying. It’s the same with books- it can take months to arrive here while it might be available in the US or UK. Bookshops here are pretty bad at any form of preordering or discounting the way an online shop does. They don’t really know their customers.
Can’t talk now, going online to buy one of those tiny trolleys in the pic!
Link?
Yea wouldn’t mind one of those wee trollies, give to the quare one to go shopping with
That’s actually a giant laptop
I have one. Tiger store :-)
€60 for a brand new smartphone on http://www.chinavasion.com with the latest android software, waterproof, shockproof, dustproof, fallproof and dual sim.
€5 delivery, why would you want to spend a €100 or 200 in a shop for the same thing.
Same for runners etc, very cheap online
buy everything online. €25 euro for an xbox one battery here ,€10 for the cheap ones in gamestop….€3 euro direct from china.
gaming laptop here €2,000. direct from America €800 including import taxes.
All we need now is a half decent postal system and see those numbers explode.
one where the collections office is open on sat and sunday if you missed a delivery!
Aliexpress.com is amazing! If you’re willing to wait a month for your orders you save a fortune. I bought 5 metre long water proof colour changing (via remote control) LEDs for €11 with free shipping and the exact same set in Argos are €49.99. I also bought loads of clothes and other bits and bobs on that site and the service is great. If you’re willing to wait I highly recommend it. It’s part of Alibaba.com
I’d like a slice of those Cliffs of Moher for my garden landscaping project, please. I wonder what the delivery cost will be?
Have to agree, cant beat china for electronics as long as you’re willing to wait. Its usually well worth it
I bought a smart phone (Cubot P5) from wwwdottinydealdotcom – for €50. Its just as good as an iPhone 6.
Its a knockoff/copy from China – where the iPhone is subcontracted to, for manufacture.
Then, I got a local sim only deal for €10 a month. Its the cheapest/best combination I’ve come across.
Hey Hodd
I was looking at the Cubot P9 on that website. Does it have wireless AC? and how long do they take to deliver?
Petyr. Yes it has, but all info in on the site. It takes 2/3 weeks to arrive; you pay by credit card – but I had no problems with my P5, or payment. You can even track delivery.
Camera shops here are way overpriced. I always buy on Amazon but its a shame they don’t have a proper .ie website. It would encourage if nothing else more marketplace sellers- which there aren’t many Irish ones of on Amazon.
BusinessPages.ie – Irelands Largest Online Shopping Directory !
Excellent article and a truly amazing blogNimble Messages
have your say