| Everyone says there is an increase in online shopping | | | | australia" show that volumes have been relatively |
| in Australia. But it's hard to find solid data to back that | | | | consistant over the past few years, apart from |
| up. | | | | seasonal peaks leading up to Christmas. |
| Although the Australian Bureau of Statistics releases | | | | Verisign is a global provider of infrastructure to |
| regular findings on population growth and employment | | | | communicate and conduct commerce with confidence, |
| rates, the most recent online shopping information | | | | with digital certificates protecting over a million servers |
| seems to be dated June 06. The archive figures show | | | | worldwide. From the Verisign site (courtesy of data |
| a definite increase in online internet usage between | | | | from Ipsos-Insight), 69% of online shoppers are |
| 2004 and 2006, with 70% of Australians over 14 using | | | | concerned about online credit card fraud, 85% |
| the internet in the last month, although the primary | | | | concerned about identity theft, and 37% believe that |
| online activities were email, general surfing and product | | | | online shopping is a risk factor for identity theft. |
| research. Shopping and selling online did increase from | | | | Displaying a trust logo on a site is felt to be important |
| 41% to 64% over that period, with the income from | | | | by 94% of Australian online shoppers. The majority of |
| online businesses increasing by 19% from 2004 to | | | | shoppers prefer to use sites that display the Verisign |
| 2005. | | | | Secured Seal. |
| The Australian Retailers Association provides more | | | | Newspapers frequently have generic articles about the |
| recent information, although the latest figures were not | | | | increase in online shopping. With the increase in petrol |
| positive. The media release for 17 June 2008 was | | | | prices, and the ability to compare prices online to find |
| headed "retail profits plummet as shoppers stop | | | | the best bargain, avoiding crowds and queues, and the |
| spending". 10% of retailers reported a decrease in | | | | ability to find unusual gifts, it is easy to understand why |
| profitability over the last quarter, despite 35% indicating | | | | people are interested in shopping online. New online |
| that they increased prices over the period, although | | | | shops are starting up all the time. The increased |
| that covers online and offline retailers. | | | | competition does lead to more benefits to shoppers, |
| The Norton Online Living Report (in their first bi-annual | | | | such as free gift wrapping and delivery. |
| report at norton.com/onlineliving) states that 76% of | | | | If you are just starting out at shopping online, here are |
| online adults had purchased something online at some | | | | some useful tips: |
| time. Mind you this was from a survey of 4687 adults | | | | 1. Look for a trust logo, such as Verisign, to verify site |
| from eight countries, and extrapolated. Around 55% of | | | | authenticity |
| Australians have a high degree of confidence online, | | | | 2. Check refund, privacy, returns, guarantees and |
| with around a third feeling confident sharing personal | | | | delivery costs |
| information when shopping online. The majority have | | | | 3. Check reputation at shopping review sites that allow |
| security software on their computers, with basic | | | | ratings and comments, such as |
| precautions such as changing passwords, using multiple | | | | 4. Pay by credit card, possibly having a separate credit |
| email addresses and staying on trusted sites. | | | | card with a low limit, specifically for online use |
| Hitwise has recent data about Australian internet | | | | 5. Ensure capture of personal and credit details are |
| usage, grouped by category. Their May 08 report says | | | | secure. The address of the page should start with |
| that top searches driving traffic to shopping sites online | | | | https, and there should be an icon of a padlock on the |
| were ebay, trading post, ticketek, harvey norman, | | | | bottom of the screen |
| everyday rewards (Woolworths), amazon and target. | | | | 6. |
| Google.com/trends searches for "online shopping | | | | |