Top 100 online retailers in the UK 2013

Highlights from the desktop IMRG-Experian Hitwise Hot Shops List (listed in full above), now in its seventh year:

• Highest risers – Orange, (+45 places), Carphone Warehouse, (+25) and Netflix, (+22).
• Blockbuster collapse appears to have had an effect – LoveFilm, Cineworld Cinemas and Netflix all rose in the rankings compared with May last year.
• Also climbing the rankings were mobile retailers, including Carphone Warehouse (+25) and Orange (+45) no doubt boosted by the surge in popularity of smartphones and tablets.
• A number of fashion retailers rose in the rankings: Zara (+13 places) Boohoo and Boden (+11), ASOS and Very (+3) and Next (+1).

James Murray, Digital Insight Manager for Experian Marketing Services: “Technology is changing our lives and with smartphone penetration in the UK approaching 60% of the population, mobile shopping is rapidly expanding. The brands that can provide a seamless experience for their customers regardless of device are the ones that are flourishing and it is no coincidence that there is significant overlap between the top 10 retailers from mobile visits and the top 10 of the Hot Shops list. This is also evidenced by leading providers like Apple, Orange, O2, Carphone Warehouse and 3Store rising up the list since last year.

“Overall online retail continues to grow at a considerable pace with UK Internet visits up 30% year-on-year for the first quarter of 2013. The UK now spends 10% of all time online shopping and the Hot Shops list remains an important barometer to measure where shoppers are going to make their retail purchases”.

Tina Spooner, Chief Information Officer at IMRG: “The shift away from desktop to mobile internet use is ever-more apparent and it is no surprise to see a number of mobile providers rising up the rankings in the latest Hot Shops List . Mobile commerce continues to record triple-digit growth and now accounts for 20% of the UK online retail market, having grown from less than 1% in 2010. Mobile visits to e-retail sites now account for almost 1 in 3 online retail visits in the UK which reflects a changing attitude among consumers. Retailers that continue to invest in their mobile operations will, no doubt, continue to reap the rewards.

“The demise of Blockbuster appears to have had a positive effect for a number of entertainment companies, with the winners being LoveFilm, Cineworld Cinemas and Netflix, which all rose in the Top 100 List rankings from last year.”

Source: www.imrg.org