‘Cyber Monday’ was widely hailed as the busiest online shopping day of the year, while last weekend saw the second ‘double bubble’ of Christmas shopping surges on eBay with the busiest weekend yet. Rounding out the Christmas predictions, this Sunday 15 December brought a peak in mobile shopping around the world as consumers pick up their mobile devices when last minute inspiration (or panic!) strikes.
This is just one of the mobile and tablet trends influencing shopping habits in Britain today. In fact, the rise of the tablet is making it easier than ever before for those wanting to shop last minute, anywhere, any time. According to the new research[1], over 80% of tablet owners are using the devices to shop, with over 60% saying they will do more Christmas shopping because of their tablet.
The study, compiled by retail analysts Conlumino, also reveals that tablets are a likely source of shopping inspiration for those hard to buy friends and relatives. Over 60% say they regularly use tablets when browsing and deciding what to buy, and 43% are using them to compare prices online.
What’s more, the popularity of smaller tablets is fuelling the mobile shopping trend, with 70% regularly using them ‘on-the-go’. Almost two thirds (60%) opted to buy a small tablet because they wanted to be able to carry it around with them, and 43% wanted something that could fit in their handbag. Around 60% of tablets purchased on eBay in the UK in the last three months have been smaller tablets, underlining this demand.
Although the research shows physical shops are likely to take the highest share of Christmas shopping spend (66%), tablets come in second place, taking a quarter of the budget (25%), more than desktops and laptops combined.
eBay’s own analysis shows that customers who shop on a tablet, in addition to another device, typically spend twice as much[2] with the online marketplace as those who shop on only one device such as desktop.
Olivier Ropars, Senior Director of m-commerce, eBay Europe, explains: “Shoppers want convenience, speed and choice – they want to shop anytime, anywhere, on any device, and we’re really seeing this in the run up to the festive period. However mobile shopping isn’t just for Christmas, it’s here to stay. Therefore in the New Year it’s crucial for retailers to think about their virtual shop window and what that looks like from a smartphone or increasingly, a tablet.”
Some Yuletide eBay Tablet Shopping Fast Facts to fill your stockings:
• Almost three quarters (71%) of tablet users like to shop on the sofa
• 58% admit to shopping in bed
• The evenings are the peak time for tablet shopping, with a third of tablet owners using it to shop between 6pm and midnight
• 9pm is the peak time for tablet shopping
• One in five have access to more than one tablet
