France, Germany and the United States are the preferred markets for British online retailers when expanding internationally. The latest report released by Volo Commerce, a leading provider of ecommerce services, reveals that in the first quarter of 2016 the total volume of exported merchandise to France registered a year on year (YOY) growth of 19 per cent, while Germany and the US saw 10 per cent more products delivered from the UK.
Paul Watson, CEO of Volo Commerce comments: “The domestic market is still a very important target for most of our customers but in the past year we have seen a strong trend of international expansion and an eagerness for exploring growth opportunities in other countries. This is occurring because the British online multi channel market is approaching maturity and local competition is increasingly aggressive with their sales tactics.
We have always encouraged cross-border initiatives, even if the amount of time and money needed to successfully move into new markets is intimidating. A strong go-to-market strategy, industry guidance and an efficient technology solution that keeps track of all sales and order activities on multiple channels can deliver rapid growth internationally.”
In the same period, online sales in the UK have also seen a significant increase of 27 per cent with British buyers spending on electronics & technology, motors and fashion. The most successful product categories in France and the US were fashion, motors and home & garden. Germans preferred fashion items, motor-related merchandise, electronics and technology.
The most popular ecommerce marketplaces in each country remain eBay, Amazon and sellers’ own websites.At the same time, products related to health & beauty seem to be catching up with a significant YOY growth rate of 33 per cent. Sport & leisure items were also high sellers, this year showing a 25 per cent increase while toys & games are becoming more and more popular with an annual rise of 24 per cent.
The research also shows that in Q1 2016, the average order value increased by 9 per cent from £22.51 to £24.59, compared with the previous year (Q1 2015).
If you need help growing you business and want to see your sales soar, contact us here for a free consultation.
