Obviously, doing the job I do - and writing books on the subject - I track the industry quite closely. One thing that has interested be for a while is the impact of 'online' on retailing. In the early days online represented only a small percentage of overall sales - mostly in niche markets. However, for a whole multitude of reasons - not least that more users now have broadband - online is moving into the wider context of retail sales.

What prompted me to write this article was the that in the summer of 2008 statistics were coming out suggesting that online was getting close to representing 20% of all retail sales. This was significant in that many commentators suggest that 20% represents the 'tipping point' in the industry. In other words, when online equals one fifth of sales then all retailers - and as I write this in October 2008, many still doubt the potential of the Internet - will move resources online. This, in turn, will increase online sales and so move that 20% figure still higher.

The problem I have is where these figures come from. Here are my comments on the subject taken from my book, Internet Marketing - a Practical Approach:

'Before considering the role of the Internet in any retail strategy, let's consider its impact so far. Throughout this book I have attempted to present fact and figures that are both relevant and accurate. However, for this particular subject the data is complex or biased, resulting in it being confusing - or all of these. The complexity comes from different bodies' interpretation of what 'retail' is within their research. For example, some include services such as online booking of holidays or flights whilst others include only of tangible products. This has an obvious impact in that just one family trip booked online would be the equivalent of dozen, if not hundreds, of books or CDs. Also, do downloads of music and games count as online retail sales - and what about Internet gambling? Other statistics, such as those from the UK's Office for National Statistics (ONS), include 'online' with other 'non–store' retail figures. The problem itself is made more difficult by the researchers not always publishing their own definition of what they have counted as retail. Bias comes in the form of research published by organizations that are in some way involved in - or would gain from - online retailing, and so may have a natural inclination to be positive about any numbers involved'

Also from the book are the following statistics:
- US government figures that suggest online represents only three per cent of total retail sales
- The British Retail Consortium (BRC) saying that online sales for 2007 were six per cent of all retail sales
- A 2008 report released by Shop.org suggesting that e-commerce would account for 7% of all retail sales in that year
- The Interactive Media in Retail Group (IMRG - the industry body for the e-retail industry) and Capgemini put the 2008 figure at 17 per cent

This web page is here to help keep this section of my book - and the issue of 'what is online retail' - up-to-date.

In its press release to celebrate 35 years of trading UK retailer Argos said that the Internet accounted for 21% of sales. Now if one of the pioneers of multi-channel retailing has 21% of sales, surely 17% of ALL retail sales seems a bit on the optimistic side? Perhaps UK retailer John Lewis' 12% of total sales is more feasible? [quoted in an interview with Luke Kingsnorth, Development Manager, Online Marketing].

Forrester Research retail analyst Sucharita Mulpuru (quoted on stores.org) refers to 'non-travel-related online sales' when talking about online sales. This is relevant in that Forrester is a key player in industry and market research and analysis. More specific is research published by Verdict Research, who present the components of 'online retail spending' as: books, clothing & footware, DIy & gardening, electricals, food & grocery, furniture & floorcoverings, health & beauty, homewares, music & video and other markets.

The IMRG Capgemini Index [www.imrg.org] tracks 'online sales', which it define as 'transactions completed fully, including payment, via interactive channels' from any location, including in-store. These sales are predominantly internet-based today, but the Index remains ready to record e-retail sales conducted via whatever interactive channels the market may embrace in the future. [AC's comment on this : But what if a customer goes into their local travel agent and books a flight on easyJet whilst on those premises, the agent will make the booking online. Does this count as an online sale?]

Also from IMRG, but this time with Hitwise, is their Hot Shops List. In the November 2008 version the following are all listed as 'shops' : Ticketmaster, easyJet, RyanAir, Expedia.co.uk, lastminute.com, Thomson Holidays, British Airways, Seetickets, Vue Entertainment, Thomas Cook and Travelodge. This reinforces my 'what is retail' argument - and I must admit, I had forgotten online event ticket sales.

April 2009. Having recently seen an article quoting 'Internet shopping' representing 3.4% of total retail sales in the The Retail Sales Index [RSI - this is for the UK], I thought I would go directly to the government department that compiles these statistics and ask 'what is counted as Internet sales in the RSI?'. The good folk at the Office for National Statistics were [fairly] quick to respond to my enquiry, pointing me at a document that include the following:

'The RSI covers sales only from businesses registered as retailers according to the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC), an internationally agreed convention for classifying industries. The retail sector is division 52 of the SIC 2003 and retailing is defined as the sale of goods to the general public for household consumption. Consequently the RSI includes all internet businesses whose primary function is retailing and also covers internet sales by other British retailers, such as online sales by supermarkets, department stores and catalogue companies. This means that the RSI covers three of the main types of household internet spending
a) spending on goods from specialist internet retailers
b) spending on goods from store-based retailers
c) spending on goods from catalogue-based mail order retailers'.

But importantly ...

'The RSI does not cover household spending on services bought from the retail sector as it is designed to only cover goods ... on-line sales of services by retailers, such as car insurance, would also be excluded'.

So there we have it. As I suspected, services are not counted in 'official' figures, but - it would seem - they are included in the likes of the IMRG figures.

Which do we take notice of? As an e-marketer, I would use the bigger numbers - but I would say that wouldn't I? Whilst I appreciate that the SIC has a role to play in segmenting industries, I think that if a person-in-the-street [ie not a B2B transaction] pays for something on a website then that is online retailing - or is it e-commerce?

November 2009. I forgot all about cars! See Online Reaches Parity for Used-Car Shopping. It would also seem that I am not the only one intrigued by conflicting reports related to online retailing. This one - E-Commerce Health Is in the Eye of the Beholder - questions the methods of research.

May 2010. Mothercare announces that online is now worth more than 20% of its UK business. Note, however, that this includes orders placed online from within their stores. Kind of blurs the boundaries of e-tailing a little - but is a definate vote for multi-channel retailing. Read more here.