Online shopping drains productivity

Online sales are fighting the same economic headwinds as other distribution channels, but a combination of online only promotions and widespread free shipping offers present customers with a powerful combination.

According to Shop.org’s annual eHoliday survey, 83.7% of retailers offered a special promotion for Cyber Monday compared to 72.2% last year. The most popular promotions included specific deals (38.8%), e-mail campaigns (32.7%), and one-day sales (24.5%). Additionally, nearly one-fourth of retailers (22.5%) offered free shipping on all purchases.

A key reason why the Monday after Thanksgiving is such a popular online shopping day is because more than half of American workers with Internet access shop for holiday gifts while at work. The trend of employees with internet access shopping from the office has continued to increase from 2005 when 44.7% of those with Internet access said they shopped online for holiday gifts from work. This year, that figure increased to 55.8%, or nearly 73 million people. According to Shop.org research, 70% of those age 18 to 34 with Internet access will shop at work.