Don’t ignore the winds of change. Even if they’re aren’t blowing in your sector

What have you purchased this year online?

If you’re selling luxury goods, perhaps you don’t need to optimise your ecommerce offering as quickly as the electronics or clothing retailers out there. That’s not to say there won’t be opportunities online, just that you’ve got a precious window to learn from the pioneers.

Consumers love Amazon. You must offer something different.

What wouldn’t you buy on Amazon?

As you can see from this chart, Amazon does well in most markets. In fact, 40% of respondents would purchase anything from Amazon.

To compete with this behemoth you need to match it or surpass it when it comes to customer experience and the post-sale.

Free and easy returns are a big part of this. 60% of UK consumers will not even consider making a fashion purchase online unless they can return unwanted items without being charged.

What would make you more likely to purchase products online?

Free returns and exchanges is almost as important to Walker Sands’ respondents as free shipping.

Free shipping opens consumer wallets

A higher percentage of consumers will spend over $500 if free shipping is included. This difference is even more marked at the $1,000 price point.

Personalisation is welcomed online

44% agree or strongly agree that product display should be tailored based on previous customer behaviour.

With ecommerce platforms and some specialised SAASs increasingly allowing this kind of personalisation, this should certainly be a goal for online retailers operating with a large enough product range in 2014.

Social is established, I’m afraid

Three of every five respondents had interacted with a brand on social media. It’s now indisputably an important channel for content, information and customer service.

55% of respondents say YouTube has also influenced a purchase at least once.

It’s worth remembering that a lot of consumers still engage on social media with the intention of taking advantage of coupons and offers (78% of respondents had done so).

The move to rental

Rental here includes the notion of subscription services. Growth is projected in many sectors, with young audiences being the quickest to adapt to idea of subscription rather than straight-up ownership.

Of course, many subjects aren’t suitable for subscription, but if other industry can lend a lesson, it’s to keep abreast of any changes in operating or pricing model by your competitor.

New retail experiences are now more readily experienced by consumers. 70% of suvey respondents said they would try 3D printing clothing instead of buying the product newly made.

Payment methods are evolving

It’s clear this survey’s respondents were cash light:

  • 62% had less than $20 on them.
  • 43% hadn’t used cash in the last three days.
  • 5% never use cash.

Despite this lack of cash, only 8% are using mobile wallets. This indicates plastic still dominates and perhaps the most pressing development in store is moving to contactless payment in the FMCG sector. 

What other changes will be cemented as best practice next year?