An Post eCommerce Index Highlights Reveals How Irish SMEs can do more for their customers

Irish SMEs must plan now to maximise Christmas trading from October – December

 

An Post eCommerce Index research insight is available free to Irish SMEs to help enhance online sales channels

 

A full year’s data from the An Post eCommerce Index reveals that convenience (72%) is the key driver for online purchases and 40% of all online ordering is through retailer social media or marketplace websites and apps.  An Post is making detailed findings from the eCommerce Index research available to Irish SMEs in a new resource to help them adapt to changing customer expectation and multi-channel purchase patterns. The Get Ready for Peak Guide 2024 resource outlines where and how consumers are spending online, their propensity to support Irish businesses and how purchase types vary depending on seasonality. In addition, An Post has established a dedicated email service for new and existing SME customers with eCommerce queries answered by a dedicated expert. Contact experts@anpost.ie for further information.  

 

Irish SMEs must be mindful of their ecommerce strategies because while 95% of Irish adults have shopped online in the past year, global players are setting eCommerce expectations on convenience and customer experience. 58% said they would make more online purchases if guaranteed delivery dates were available.

 

The research shows the opportunity that exists for Irish SMEs to maximise their eCommerce offering during the main selling window from October to December.  52% stated they would prefer to support Irish businesses during this period and 32% did not want to pay import charges on products coming from outside Ireland. 56% made purchases around Black Friday and the Christmas period based on an online offer or with a retailer discount code. 

 

An Post is launching the Get Ready for Peak Guide, to support SMEs to optimise their eCommerce offering over the peak 2024 shopping periods.  The guide contains the research insights from invaluable consumer data and spending trends throughout 2023, and in particular peak 2023 (October to December).

 

Speaking about the Get Ready for Peak Guide, Garrett Bridgeman, Managing Director, COO An Post Commerce said “We appreciate the challenges that SMEs and business owners face when it comes to getting their hands on relevant market research and insights. The An Post eCommerce Index is full of insights into Irish consumer behaviour online – from the growth in popularity of certain categories, the frequency at which consumers of all ages are shopping online to the channels they are using to purchase. We’ve packaged this intelligence into a convenient guide for businesses preparing eCommerce strategies for Christmas 2024”.

 

“Irish SMEs can capitalise on the strong consumer preference for supporting Irish businesses and by understanding the importance of convenience to shoppers of all ages. Range and choice, great deals and recommendations are also among the key considerations for shoppers so even something as simple as an exclusive online deal or discount code can generate a big upturn in sales.

 

With 60% of Irish shoppers online using retailer websites and 40% of all online ordering now going through retailer social media and market place websites and apps, a focus on these channels will increase eCommerce footprint and drive sales.  Clarity around delivery times and standard are also key.   We have seen a huge increase in parcel volumes over the last four years and they continue to rise so for any business whose focus has not been on eCommerce to date, now is the time to give it strong consideration as you prepare for key sales windows in just a few months.”

 

 

Overview of key findings from An Post’s eCommerce Index:

• Convenience is the top driver for online shopping in Ireland at 72% followed by time savings (64%) and competitive pricing (52%).
• 40% of all online ordering is through retailer social media or marketplace websites and apps
• 58% would make more online purchases if guaranteed delivery dates were available
• 81% of all online purchases were under €100
• Over 60% of Irish consumers prefer to shop directly through retailer websites, highlighting the importance of a user-friendly online experience.
• October to December are key trading periods for eCommerce retailers.
• More than eight in ten consumers claimed to use Irish websites for Christmas gift shopping, with the top two categories being toys (90%) and gift vouchers (93%), while almost half claimed that fast delivery was the main reason they shopped on Irish websites.
• 52% stated they would prefer to support Irish businesses during Black Friday/Christmas sales period
• 32% do not want to pay import charges on products coming from outside of Ireland.
• 56% made purchases across Black Friday and Christmas based on an online offer or with a retailer discount code.
• Subscription services are growing in popularity as almost half of 16–24-year-olds now having a subscription service including monthly beauty boxes and menstrual products.
• Clothing is the leading product category for online purchases at 62% followed by books (47%), Beauty Products (40%), Toys (30%), Consumer Electronics (32%) and Jewellery (20%).
• Black Friday and Christmas sales saw significant increases in the purchases of Toys (38%), Consumer Electronics (36%) and Jewellery (24%)

 

An Post’s Get Ready for Peak Guide is available to view and download from www.anpost.com/ecommerceindex