Postal strikes 'hit online sales'
Wednesday November 25 2009
The growth in online sales of goods has been "significantly" slowed by the wave of strikes by postal workers, leading to a £53 million fall in sales, according to a new study.
Sales have improved all year, but were reported to have plunged by 5% in the last week of October, when members of the Communication Workers Union were taking action in a long running row over pay, jobs and modernisation.
The IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index showed British shoppers spent £4.2 billion online in October, an increase of almost 12% on the same month last year.
Mike Petevinos of Capgemini said: "E-retailers must ensure they heed the October warning signs and act to reassure consumers that orders will be delivered in time for Christmas.
"With consumer confidence restored, e-retailers can get on with the real challenge of convincing consumers to spend online and resist the temptation to wait even longer for last minute discounting on the high street."
Tina Spooner of consultants IMRG, the e-retail industry body, added: "Whilst the index returned to double-digit growth in October, the decline in e-retail sales values and volumes during the second half of the month shows that consumer confidence was affected by the Royal Mail strikes.
"With the threat of further strike action now averted in the run-up to Christmas, shoppers' concerns around delivery will no doubt be dissipated."
Press Association
