Five Influential Online Shoppers: A Holiday Guide

Holiday shoppers are planning on spending between $92-96 billion online this season: that’s $421 per customer, and a 12 percent jump from one year ago.

With the rise of eCommerce in mind, Maxymiser has created an infographic called “5 Online Shoppers Ruling the Holiday Interwebs,” which breaks down the most influential groups of online buyers and what influences them most.

Which type of holiday shopper are you? Take a look.

The Bargain Hunter

Forty-five present of Millennials say they prioritize sales over preferred brands, and 50 percent of the rest of the population does too. So what can retailers do to attract such savvy shoppers? Two-thirds of bargain hunters expect retailers to offer lower prices and discounts, and 78 percent of that population said at least half of their purchases will be discounted. Half are looking for a discount between 20-40 percent, and 59.7 percent will compare prices between online retailers before buying.

The First-Time Online Shopper

Do you remember your first time shopping online? Thirty-three percent of all online buyers in 2012 were newbies, and they follow their own set of eCommerce rules. According to the study, 34 percent of new buyers cited customer service as their top requirement for winning loyalty, while 41 percent said sales and discounts will have the biggest influence. Seventy-one percent of online shoppers prefer sites with clear and easy payments instructions, and 61 percent read online reviews before making a decision. Overall, 48 percent of consumers said that the first purchase is the best time for a company to engender loyalty.

The Touchy Feely Shopper

Despite the inherent convenience offered by online shopping, many consumers still want some sensory information before they click “buy.” Two-thirds of consumers said the quality of a product image is very important when choosing what to buy, and product pages with a 360-degree have 20 percent better purchase rate than those without. One of the studies most interesting findings: 41 percent of consumers will buy multiple size of the same piece of clothing, and then just send back the ill-fitting items. Twelve percent of consumers are quite old-fashion, and refuse to shop online due to concerns over finding the right size.

The Needs-Inspiration Shopper

Let’s face it: not everyone on your list is easy to shop for. We all need a little inspiration from time to time, and 37 percent of consumers say online searches are their main source for gift ideas. Another 37 percent said the Internet will influence the bands they buy, while a whopping 80 percent said email offers hold some sway as well. And while they may seem pesky at times, those “recommended for you” sections work: 73 percent of consumers say they take note.

The Last-Minute Shopper

If you’re reading this and planning on buying something online for Christmas, you certainly apply here, but the good news is, you wouldn’t be alone. The survey indicated that the average consumer has only completed about 46.5 percent of their shopping by the second week of December, and 29 percent are influenced by last-minute deals. You’re in the minority if you’ve waited this long to start, though: only 3.5 percent say they wait to begin buying until December’s last two weeks.

To view more online shopping statistics, view the full infographic below.