According to data from web measurement firm, comScore Inc., e-commerce merchants have gained $38.0 billion in sales during the first quarter of 2011–a major leap from pre-recession e-retail sales from the first quarter of 2008 which amounted to $31.8 billion. In a report for the Internet Retailer by Allison Enright, e-commerce entrepreneurs are said to be “gaining market share from physical retailers in the wake of a recession”, a development driven by increased online shopping for consumer electronics and the rising popularity of mobile devices.
Additionally, the article notes that mobile Internet access is helping e-commerce merchants make significant gains. The data also reported that “31% of U.S. mobile phone subscribers, or 72 million consumers, now go online using smartphones” and that they use their mobile devices to search prices and do comparison shopping. In fact, 33% of all smartphone owners say that they use their phones to compare prices at other merchants while in a retail store, according to another study conducted by comScore. Gian Fulgoni, chairman of comScore, was quoted in the article saying ““It used to be that if you got the consumers in the store the likelihood of closing a purchase was pretty high. The reality today is that with smartphones, consumers can visit, touch and feel a product, then scan the bar code and get online and compare the price. Retailers now feel that they are competing with Amazon within their own store.”
comScore further notes that the “
19.5% growth in e-commerce since early 2008 shows that online retailing has recovered faster than bricks-and-mortar retail.” In addition, according to unadjustde U.S. Commerce Department tallies, e-commerce sales were up 26.3% in Q1 this year as compared to the same span in 2008. This strong showing by the online market is attributed to the shift in consumer behavior especially in the consumer electronics category. comScore notes that “about 50% of all computers and 30% of all consumer electronics bought in the United States are now purchased online.”Additionally, the article notes that mobile Internet access is helping e-commerce merchants make significant gains. The data also reported that “31% of U.S. mobile phone subscribers, or 72 million consumers, now go online using smartphones” and that they use their mobile devices to search prices and do comparison shopping. In fact, 33% of all smartphone owners say that they use their phones to compare prices at other merchants while in a retail store, according to another study conducted by comScore. Gian Fulgoni, chairman of comScore, was quoted in the article saying ““It used to be that if you got the consumers in the store the likelihood of closing a purchase was pretty high. The reality today is that with smartphones, consumers can visit, touch and feel a product, then scan the bar code and get online and compare the price. Retailers now feel that they are competing with Amazon within their own store.”
Aside from electronics retailers online, e-commerce merchants selling mass merchandise are also starting to feel the changing consumer buying patterns. The article also pointed out that US consumers spent approximately $15 billion online for packaged good in 2010, which is 10% more than in 2009. Additionally, an approximate 12% of Internet users claim that they have purchased their grocery supplies online.