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17 Surprising Ecommerce Stats To Help Guide Your Strategy

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When it comes to shopping in 2024 and beyond, the name of the game is ecommerce. Advances in technology have made it possible for retailers to expand their businesses beyond a physical brick-and-mortar footprint to a broader—often global—scale.

However, the rising popularity of online shopping means ecommerce is becoming increasingly more competitive. Online retailers must be poised to nimbly shift and change with the trends to remain relevant. The guide below provides insight into the latest ecommerce statistics to give you an edge when creating your improvement strategy for the coming year.

If you’d like to refine your strategy to increase ecommerce sales, schedule a call with Sagapixel today. 

How Many Consumers Use Mobile Devices In-Store to Inform Purchases?

Nearly 30% of consumers research products on their mobile devices while shopping in physical stores. This gives online retailers a competitive edge, as shoppers often compare prices and product details before making a purchase. By optimizing product listings for price-comparison searches on Google, ecommerce businesses can attract cost-conscious buyers looking for the best deal.

What Is the Biggest Draw for Consumers Who Prefer Online Shopping?

For over 50% of consumers, 24/7 accessibility is the main reason to shop online. The ability to browse and purchase anytime—whether replacing essentials in the morning or finding a last-minute gift at night—makes ecommerce a convenient alternative to brick-and-mortar stores. A seamless, user-friendly online shopping experience can keep customers coming back.

What Causes Consumers to Abandon Their Online Shopping Carts?

A complicated checkout process drives up to 80% of shoppers to leave their carts before completing a purchase. Unexpected fees, slow load times, and too many steps create frustration and lost sales. Simplifying the process with fewer form fields, transparent pricing, and one-click purchasing can keep customers from leaving your website before they buy.

How Many Consumers Purchase Through Ecommerce?

In 2020, 2.05 billion consumers made purchases online, up from 1.5 billion in 2016. As businesses continue to enable online shopping, digital purchases keep increasing. With convenience driving consumer behavior, ecommerce growth shows no signs of slowing down so businesses that want to stay competitive and profitable need to keep up with this trend.

How Will Ecommerce Evolve in the Coming Years?

By 2025, the number of online shoppers is expected to reach 4.8 billion, making ecommerce more dominant than ever. As technology advances, businesses will need to upgrade their digital presence to stay competitive. Prioritizing website optimization and delivery services over physical storefronts will be key to long-term success.

How Competitive Is the Ecommerce Market?

Ecommerce revenue is projected to reach $4.23 trillion in 2022, making it harder than ever for businesses to stand out. Established brands have the advantage of recognition and loyalty, while newer businesses need to work smarter to get noticed. Success comes down to a strong brand strategy and targeted marketing that connects with the right audience.

How Many Small Businesses Still Lack a Website?

Despite the growth of ecommerce, 28% of small businesses still operate without a website. Many rely on local customers, but as online shopping expands, businesses without a digital presence risk losing relevance. Building a simple website or adding an online store helps small businesses stay competitive and reach more customers.

How Many Consumers Read Online Reviews Before Purchasing?

About 95% of consumers read online reviews before making a purchase, relying on others’ experiences to guide their decisions. Since online shoppers can’t see or touch products in person, a steady stream of honest reviews builds trust and boosts sales. Offering small incentives, like discounts or giveaways, can encourage customers to share their feedback about your products.

Which Age Group Shops Online the Most? 

In the U.S., 38.4% of online shoppers are under 35, and this number will keep growing as younger generations gain financial independence. Simply having an online presence isn’t enough—businesses need to stay on top of trends that appeal to this tech-savvy younger audience. 

How Many Online Purchases Are Made Through Amazon?

Nearly 40% of all ecommerce sales happen on Amazon, making it the dominant force in online shopping. Its success stems from key features that create a seamless shopping experience, including:

  • A vast selection of products
  • An intuitive, easy-to-navigate interface
  • Compatibility with PCs and mobile devices
  • A fast, simplified checkout process
  • Same-day delivery on select items

While most businesses can’t match Amazon’s scale, adopting these strategies can improve their online shopping experience. Small businesses can also sell on Amazon to tap into its massive customer base.

What Is the Most Common Reason Why Online Shoppers Avoid Making a Purchase?

High shipping costs stop many online shoppers from completing their purchases, especially when fees push their total over budget. Offering free delivery—on all orders, for larger purchases, or as a promotion—can make a big difference in your online sales. Additionally, clear, upfront pricing builds trust and keeps customers coming back.

How Many Shoppers Research Brands Before Making a Purchase?

About 81% of shoppers look up a brand and its products before buying. Consumers care about more than just quality—they want to support businesses that align with their values. Companies that prioritize transparency, ethical practices, and social responsibility are more likely to earn customer trust and long-term loyalty.

What Percentage of Retail Sales Come from Ecommerce?

Ecommerce now makes up nearly 20% of all retail sales, and that number is expected to grow by another 5% by 2026. What started as a trend is now a fundamental part of the retail industry, creating huge opportunities for businesses of all sizes. With more competition online, success depends on a strong marketing strategy to help brands stand out.

How Many People Shop Online Worldwide?

In 2022, over 1.8 billion people—more than 25% of the global population—shopped online. Ecommerce isn’t just a local trend; it connects consumers and businesses across continents. Small businesses can reach customers across the globe and gain access to products and resources that were once out of reach.

How Do Online Businesses Connect with Customers?

More than 50% of online storefronts use multichannel communication to reach customers and build brand awareness. A strong online presence increases visibility and engagement, often through social media, where businesses can:

  • Advertise new products or discounts
  • Create brand awareness
  • Develop a rapport with potential customers

While managing multiple channels takes planning and consistency, it’s one of the most effective ways to attract and convert shoppers.

How Many Ecommerce Purchases Are Made on Mobile Devices?

By 2024, nearly half of all ecommerce sales will come from mobile devices. A seamless mobile shopping experience requires easy navigation, fast load times, and graphics that scale to different screen sizes. Optimizing your website for mobile helps your customers browse and buy without frustration.

What Causes Online Consumers to Stop Shopping at a Retailer?

More than 75% of customers abandon a retailer after just two bad experiences. With countless options available, shoppers won’t hesitate to switch to a competitor if a website is difficult to use or customer service falls short. Regularly monitoring your site and addressing customer feedback can help you retain your customer base.

Summary

More people than ever are shopping online, and that number is likely to increase with each passing year—especially as the younger generations become adults with disposable income. That means a robust online presence and pleasant digital shopping experience are the most important aspects of building a successful retail business.

When it comes to online shopping, ease, convenience, and transparency are the name of the game. Consumers respond best to retailers with the following:

  • Aesthetically pleasing websites with intuitive navigation
  • Excellent customer service—e.g., a straightforward return policy
  • Transparent pricing, with clear communication around discounts
  • Integrity—products are high-quality and work as described
  • Clear, consistent branding and communication across digital channels

Of course, to give your customers a great online experience, you have to have an online presence to begin with. If you’re a business owner with flagging sales, consider expanding your footprint to the digital world. There’s a wide array of intuitive site-building tools and resources available that even a novice can use.

Though commerce has evolved through the years from local storefronts to websites with a global reach, the basic rules of business remain the same—be honest, value your customers, and sell quality products.

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