Irish adults spent an estimated €2.96 billion online in 2010, an increase of 39% on the 2009 figure. The figures are part of an annual survey* carried out by Visa Europe. Half the respondents said that they save between 11–30% by shopping online.
Value is more important for 25-44 year olds, with 59% choosing it as their primary reason for buying goods online compared to 42% of 18-24 year olds and 45% of 45-54 year olds.
“Consumers typically shop online because it’s convenient but increasingly we’ve seen budget conscious shoppers turn to the Internet in the hunt for value,” says Conor Langford, Vice-President, Ireland at Visa Europe.
The average Irish shopper spent €1,550 online last year. Flights/holidays, entertainment tickets and books continue to be the most popular items, while clothing and footwear are gaining momentum. Consumers are also more inclined to purchase items online that they cannot find in Irish stores. Men spent more online on average (€1,650) compared to women (€1,470).
Web: www.visaeurope.com
* The survey was conducted by iReach during the period of 14th April to 20th April using the iReach Consumer Decisions Research Panel which delivered 1,000 responses from adults in Ireland aged 18+ to 65+.
