Smartphones and tablets have transformed retail shopping. The vast majority of the 6 billion mobile phone users love to shop online using mobile devices.
Links to user-generated content on Facebook, Twitter and review sites make up a quarter of the search results for the top 20 brands in the world. Sixty percent of Facebook users say they would discuss a product or service if they were offered a deal of some kind.
Social media shoppers are some of the most active shoppers out there – spending an average of $1,800 per person. And 167 million of them are expected to shop online in 2012. In 2014, it’s estimated that the internet will trigger 53% of all retail sales – both online and off.
Here is how shoppers are using their smartphones according to the online analytics company that compiled all this data - Symphony Teleca:
33% looked for sales and specials
33% checked store information
32% looked at product reviews and ratings
31% compared prices on Amazon
31% checked out an online store for a certain product
29% looked around at online retailers other than Amazon
27% used a site that focuses on providing competitive prices
26% made sure the store had a product in their inventory
24% scouted the prices for certain products on a retailer’s mobile site
Just to demonstrate the power that we consumers wield – 85% of people anticipate a change in their shopping behavior based on the user-generated information they find online. Remember that the next time you have a great (or a miserable) shopping experience. Help each other out, and take the time to share.
