An Post teamed with Ipsos B&A to provide research into how Irish people are shopping online. People are happy to support Irish businesses, even online, as the majority of Irish SME’s eCommerce sales are in Ireland.
Out of the 1,504 members of the public and 366 Small Medium Enterprises (SME’s) researched from April to May 2023, 52% stated that they want to support Irish companies as much as they can. They found that delivery is faster and they’re more confident buying from an Irish website.
The main reasons people shop online are convenience and choice. Clothing and footwear, and beauty, books and media were the top categories for online purchases over the last 3 months. This extends to the Christmas period where people have purchased (or plan to purchase) clothes and toys as gifts.
There is also a small increase in the use of social media shopping among people aged 16 to 24. People in this age group are the most likely to shop online weekly. An Post recommends businesses to prepare for increased demand for online shopping in the second half of 2024.
Some of other key points include:
- 58% of female consumers stated that shopping online better suited their lifestyle.
- Over a third of Irish customers are only shopping on Irish websites as opposed to on international websites.
- Black Friday deals start at the peak of trading – 56% of customers were influenced by deals during this time.
- 79% of purchases are under €100, with the sweet spot being priced between €25 to €49.
- 52% agree that sustainability and environmental credentials of retailers is important to them.
The full report can be found on An Post’s website. It has some insightful information for eCommerce businesses to help improve their service to customers. Thinking of starting your own? Build your website with us today.