New figures: EU an increasingly important market for UK online retailers
The total number of online searches for UK retail websites grew by 52% in the first quarter of 2016 compared with the same period a year ago, according to figures released by the British Retail Consortium and Google.
Search volumes on mobile devices increased by 50% in the period.
Helen Dickinson, BRC chief executive, said: “Today’s figures provide further evidence that the EU is an increasingly important market for UK retailers. With 14 EU countries reporting over 100% growth in searches on mobile devices, not only is interest in UK retail growing steadily on the continent, EU consumers are also far more likely to be experiencing the British retail offer through their smartphones. This impressive mobile interest sits alongside a healthy double-digit increase in total searches across all devices in all but one EU Member State (Estonia).”
Beauty was the most searched sector by EU consumers on mobile devices with growth of 91%.
The department store sector was also popular for EU consumers on mobile devices, with an increase of 75% in the period.
Dickinson added: “The desire for UK retail products is especially strong in the beauty sector and searches for British department stores are also very high – likely due to the UK being the home to some of the most recognisable department store brands in the world. In all, the strength and popularity of UK retail beyond our own borders shows little sign of diminishing.”
The Czech Republic demonstrated the strongest appetite for UK retailers, reporting a 256% increase on mobile devices in the first quarter of 2016.
