Eighty six percent of all Web-based retailers reported higher sales during the first two weeks of December than they experienced a year ago, according to a new survey. Only 2.5% said their sales had dropped.
Site traffic rose by a similar amount, according to the third installment of the 2003 eHoliday Mood Survey, which is conducted every two weeks between early November and the end of December by Shop.org, the online retail segment of BizRate.com.
Marketers were asked about periods that also saw brick-and-mortar store sales softened by harsh weather conditions.
Online marketers indicated product promotions and gift idea centers were the most useful in stimulating sales, with 39% and 34% of all respondents, respectively, citing these. Another 30% indicated that the ability to suggest items during the shopping process helped, and 25% cited a clearance sale page as being a factor in moving product.
As for revenue gains, 85% indicated these were higher than in 2002, while only 11% reported a dropoff. Thirty six percent reported sales increases of at least 100%.
The survey was conducted among more than 80 online retailers, all of whom are members of Washington, DC-based Shop.org.
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