Amazon Prime Day gives July’s online sales a lift – but lowest growth rate in 4 years
UK online retail sales were up 11% year-on-year in July boosted in part by Amazon Prime Day, according to the latest figures from the IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index.
However, this was the lowest July growth rate for the index in four years (since July 2013) and last year it was 18.6%. Growth for online sales so far in 2017 (Jan-Jul) is 12%.
There was a notable increase in the percentage of site visitors completing a purchase on online retailer sites in July, with the overall conversion rate reaching 5.8%, 21% higher than a year ago.
The clothing and home and garden sectors in particular saw jumps in conversion rates, which were up 43% and 83% respectively. The fact that the conversion rate rise wasn’t matched by a similar boost in online sales revenue growth suggests that discounting activity was high in July, with the summer sales period in full flow and retailers under pressure from Amazon Prime Day.
At the same time, the average basket value (ABV) on mobile devices was also markedly higher in July – with the ABV on smartphones up 21% while for tablets it was up 17%.
Looking at specific sectors, sales growth for the electrical sector was down (-5%) in July, following an even sharper drop in June (-13.9%), which may be related to shopper awareness around Amazon Prime Day and the promise of getting a deal on electrical products during that event.
The home & garden sector, meanwhile, was up 25% – a strong performance that was probably boosted by the hot weather in July.
Says Justin Opie, managing director, IMRG:
“87% of respondents to a recent retailer survey we ran claimed that the event (Amazon Prime Day) has not led them to adapt their summer sales strategies – it does after all already fall during one of retail’s major discounting periods. Yet overall market growth of +11% for July, while solid enough, is probably a bit below expectation – while Amazon reported growth of +60% year-on-year for their 30-hour Prime Day period.
“Conversion rates being up sounds positive, but the fact that it didn’t deliver a similar boost to sales revenue growth suggests discounting was probably a factor in driving more visitors to complete a purchase. Prime Day is an established event in the calendar now and it may be exerting an impact judging by this month’s results, although other factors – such as rising inflation and consumer confidence – may also be at play.”
Adds Bhavesh Unadkat, principal consultant in retail customer engagement design, Capgemini:
“We’re seeing the slowdown in purchasing continue across July as this trend of low consumer confidence lingers. With the pound almost running level with the euro luxury purchases and ‘nice-to-haves’ are hit hardest.”
