Online Shopper Universe Expands

By George Anderson

Retail merchants doing business online found a lot to be jolly about this past holiday season as 17.7 million new shoppers helped drive a 22 percent increase in dollar sales for the period.

According to a report from JupiterResearch, (http://www.jupiterresearch.com) consumers plunked down $22.1 billion during November and December.

Patti Freeman Evans, retail analyst at JupiterResearch, said the number of new shoppers was significant but perhaps even more importantly, “three quarters of consumers bought from a site they had never purchased from before.”

JupiterResearch is looking for continued growth in the e-tail channel. The company forecasts 2005 online retail sales will surpass $79 billion, up from $66 billion last year.

Moderator’s Comment: What do you take away from the number of new shoppers going online to buy gifts this holiday season and the willingness of consumers
to shop at new sites? What are the implications for retailers selling goods online?

Patti Freeman Evans says performance during the holiday season is critical for one very important reason. “The holidays present a great opportunity for
retailers to acquire new customers for the long term,” she said in a released statement. –
George Anderson – Moderator