Tablets, phones and electronic readers are among the most popular items being ordered by consumers in the ramp-up to the festive season, a snap survey has shown.
According to WantItAll, the top 10 gadgets being ordered online are:
1. Media players: Apple TV, ROKU
2. E-readers: Kindle
3. Tablets: Asus, Kindle Fire
4. Laptops: Chromebook
5. Tablet and e-reader accessories: Bluetooth keyboards, reading lights
6. Audio: Jambox, iHome
7. Headphones: Sony, Monster DNA
8. Lightning adapters
9. Camera accessories
10. Two-way radios
Online marketing manager John Schickerling adds sales volumes through the portal have gained 172% year-on-year, although the average basket size is only up 10%.
WantItAll expects to see sales slowly plateauing from 2014 onwards, due to increasing competition, which will dilute market share, says Schickerling.
According to DionWired, the top 10 gadgets this festive season, in no particular order, are:
* Samsung Galaxy Gear
* Samsung Galaxy Note 3 10.1 TAB
* Samsung Galaxy Note 3
* Fitbit Flex
* Sony PS4
* iPhone 5S/5C
* iPad Air
* 3D Cube Printer
* Bose Soundlink Mini
* GoPro 3+ Black edition
DionWired, which did not indicate year-on-year sales growth, adds iTunes gift cards are selling well, as are mini speakers and high-power mini component systems. Headphones continue to be the ultimate fashion accessory, it adds.
Gaming software is always top of the list for kids, says the retailer. It also notes that more and more of its customers are shopping online or browsing online and shopping in store.
The growth in online sales bears out World Wide Worx's 2012 study that found the growth of e-commerce is accelerating, with the Internet economy set to contribute 25% more to the local economy in 2016 than it did in 2011.
E-commerce is gaining traction locally, with South Africans becoming more accustomed to buying online, the report noted.
Fatima Sullivan, head of retail at DHL Express Sub-Saharan Africa, recently said consumers are increasingly choosing to purchase gifts online from both local and foreign retailers due to the ability to select from a wide range of products at competitive prices, without being limited by geographical locations or time constraints.
"With improved infrastructure in terms of ICT, online safety and security, more people are choosing to make use of online shopping over traditional brick-and-mortar outlets due to the variety of products available to them at just a click of a button," she said.
A MasterCard Worldwide Online Shopping Survey showed significant increase in online shopping among South Africans in 2013, with 58% of respondents saying they use the Internet for online shopping. This is an increase from the 44% who did online shopping in 2009, and 53% from 2010.
Share