What are the essential differences between UK and US online shopping?

What lessons can UK retailers learn from recent developments in the online shopping experience?

Three years ago 70% of Internet users were men, but tomorrow...?

Consumer awareness of online shopping and the Internet has increased considerably in the past year, fuelled by the scope of present media interest. The Internet is consistently proving to be a prominent topic in both the UK and the US, a trend that is likely to continue as the medium expands. Technology development is inspiring further innovation - enhanced interactivity such as the ability to touch and smell products on a website for example. Can this electronic future really make bricks-and-mortar shops redundant? The Internet has become a basic customer expectation, and online brands are heavily judged by levels of customer service, yet are they delivering?. There appear to be large areas where the customer is still unconvinced - this may still pose problems for the retailer. The user type is also changing as an increasing number of women are using the service, thus closing the gender gap - a pattern initially seen in the US. So what does the UK customer expect?

What are the essential differences between UK and US online shopping?

What lessons can UK retailers learn from recent developments in the online shopping experience?

Three years ago 70% of Internet users were men, but tomorrow...?

Consumer awareness of online shopping and the Internet has increased considerably in the past year, fuelled by the scope of present media interest. The Internet is consistently proving to be a prominent topic in both the UK and the US, a trend that is likely to continue as the medium expands. Technology development is inspiring further innovation - enhanced interactivity such as the ability to touch and smell products on a website for example. Can this electronic future really make bricks-and-mortar shops redundant? The Internet has become a basic customer expectation, and online brands are heavily judged by levels of customer service, yet are they delivering?. There appear to be large areas where the customer is still unconvinced - this may still pose problems for the retailer. The user type is also changing as an increasing number of women are using the service, thus closing the gender gap - a pattern initially seen in the US. So what does the UK customer expect?

With approximately one third of US households now able to access the Internet, the online sector is purportedly nearly two years ahead of that in the UK, a notion underlined by the fact that there are no per-minute phone charges for usage. To what extent will UK online retailing be boosted by the Government's proposals on the development of this issue, or will falls in hardware costs make a greater impression? This report looks at the expansion of the Internet and online shopping, focusing especially on levels of consumer Internet usage and the differences between US and UK markets. The products that consumers in the US and UK purchase over the Internet do vary, but there are product successes that reflect similarities. UK vs US Online Shopping provides an analysis of the leading e-commerce retailers in both countries, establishing consumer awareness and attitudes within the context of the general retail economy.

Other relevant Mintel reports include:

- Special Report, Digital TV

- Online Shopping, Retail Intelligence, June 1999

- Special Report, Home Shopping.