With 45.5% of Oxatis e-merchants wanting to take their business abroad, here's a survey conducted by YouGov Zapera for DIBS Payment Services that should peak their interest!
With regards to consumers, the study found that 90% of European Internet users purchase online, but apparently, how much each person spends varies significantly from one country to another.
Note: I re-read the study a few times and it claims that ... "90% of all Internet users in the selected eight countries, have made online purchases". That seems a little exaggerated to me.
Nevertheless, the study becomes very interesting when it starts looking at cross-border spending habits.
- On average, a third of consumers in Europe purchased on a website outside of their own country.
- In the heavy spender category, 52% made purchases on foreign websites.
- The two most important reasons to shop abroad were to find lower prices for 61% and to find products that weren't available in their own country for 55%.
The front runners among these cross-border consumers are Norway, Finland and Denmark.
We really don't give enough thought to Nordic countries!
And how are these buyers going to find your online store? The answer's not too original...either they know you already (which doesn't explain how) or through search engines, online marketplaces and shopping comparison services.
However, it's important to note that nearly 30% find you based on a friend's recommendation. Our customer's friends are our future customers ...
For more details, I recommend taking a closer look at this study to benefit from the wealth of information and advice to be found when starting out.
As they say in Norway, Alle mine ønsker om suksess!
