Easter Shopping: Savvy Shoppers Shop Online

When you think about Easter, your first thoughts are probably not about shopping online – more likely how to spend your time off work, or celebrate what Easter means to you. Regardless of this, many of us will be spending some time shopping during the holidays. And research shows that when we go shopping online it’s often faster, cheaper and with better product knowledge than traditional retail shopping.

Whether you are shopping online for Easter treats, electrical appliances, sunglasses, handbags or toys, there are some common motivations for choosing to shop on the internet rather than in a bricks and mortar store. Research conducted in the UK and US by IT company Cisco shows that 63% of internet shoppers go online to find the lowest prices, and 46% shop online to save time.

Online shopping sites can easily deliver for both these objectives and more. Australian online specialist www.oo.com.au offers shoppers a world of choice with more than 12,000 products at up to 80% off retail prices. From mp3 players and electrical appliances to bed linen, cookware, kid's toys, quilts and blankets, www.oo.com.au saves shoppers time and money, with simple, secure, fast online shopping.

Cisco’s research also highlights that shoppers aren’t just tech-savvy, they are getting more product savvy as well, with 29% of shoppers using online reviews before making their purchase. This is more than the 24% who ask staff in a store, or 19% who check out print media. Other research indicates that pre-purchase online research is becoming so prevalent that more than half of European retailers believe that shoppers have better product knowledge than the staff in their stores.

This shows that the internet is increasingly empowering consumers, allowing them to make informed purchasing decisions before they click ‘Proceed to checkout’. From large online shopping sites to specific product and review sites, consumers can find out what others have to say about anything from GPS navigation, DVD players, LCD TVs and watches, to toys, blankets or steam cleaners – all from the convenience of their PC. And it’s a self-fueling process, as more and more consumers post their own reviews and experiences online following their purchase.

Another advantage of online shopping, which some shoppers will appreciate this month, is that the internet never closes. Whilst retailers must observe holiday trading restrictions over Easter, discount online stores such as www.oo.com.au will be trading 24/7.