PCR Tech and IT retail, distribution and vendor news
Online sales of non-food products (including tech goods) in the UK grew by 8.3 per cent in February.
According ot the British Retail Consortium and KPMG, the proportion of non-food sales purchased online was 17.5 per cent, which is an increase of 0.9 per cent over February 2014.
However, some stock shortages were noticeable within electrical and electronics departments, due to the mayhem that followed Black Friday.
Health gadgets including smartbands were some of the strong sellers, while tablet sales declined.
Helen Dickinson, director general of the British Retail Consortium, said: “On a three month basis the largest proportion of non-food sales growth came from online sales rather than bricks and mortar for the sixth consecutive month.
“February saw a lull after the Christmas rush and January sales but managed to maintain a healthy rate of growth on top of February 2014’s strong performance.”
Online sales also contributed to a one per cent to the growth of non-food total sales in February.
David McCorquodale, head of retail at KPMG, said: “Online sales were the primary driver of growth for the non-food retail sector over the last three months, with shoppers spending more online than in store on non-food items.
“Smartphones and tablets have helped to cement this shift, and it is vital retailers recognise this and invest in systems which make it easier for consumers to shop using these devices.”
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