Is the online sales boom over for the UK?
This week news reports are suggesting a slowing UK economy, with the possibility of online sales slowing with it. GDP figures issued earlier this week showed a 0.5% contraction, while an ‘astonishing’ slump in consumer confidence is tracked by the latest GfK NOP consumer confidence index, published today. Online the story is still one of fast growth Brick have seen this to be true with our customers, but there are the first signs of doubts as to how long that may last. Government Research suggests the "no VAT" offers may have kept retail and online sales going in January – however, will it last?
Even if sales growth may slow down a bit here in the UK, there’s still some positive news to be had from Kelkoo and the Centre for Retail Research, indicating that the United Kingdom continues to dominate the EU online e-commerce sales market – in 2010 a third of all online sales in the EU came from the UK. In 2011 the fastest growth online is now predicted for 2011 in other European countries and beyond, so, is it time you started looking to expand internationally?
Elsewhere, Amazon says Kindle book sales have now overtaken its still-growing paperback sales and two online payment firms are set to upgrade the choice of how e-commerce shoppers pay online. Brick technology are now suggesting to our clients that now is the time to take a new look at your web presence and take more seriously international growing online markets.
We have clients in the USA, Canada, Denmark, Australia, France, Eastern Europe and beyond. We can provide geo-targetted, multi-language, multi-currency and country specific marketing solutions. Whether you are a Brick client or not, why not come in and see us for a no-obligation analysis of your current situation and how we can work together and continue to grow in the years ahead?
If you would like to take us up on this offer, please contact Claire Smalley c.smalley@brickweb.co.uk Telephone: 01254 277190 and invest an hour in consultation with Brickweb.