A love of UK brands
Australian shoppers are keen on overseas websites with 30% of online shoppers making a purchase from a UK site*, according to our latest study.
With global reach and being the number one facilitator of ecommerce in the UK, Royal Mail is well placed to observe trends across the industry.
The key reasons that Australian shoppers cited for shopping on UK sites were availability, a love of UK brands and price. 76% of Australian shoppers will buy products from the UK if they can’t find them locally. Further to this, 46% of Australian online shoppers seek out items that are only on sale in the UK and 59% do so because they love British brands.
Shopping habits of Australian consumers
Over eight in ten (81%) Australian shoppers use digital marketplaces, compared to 68% in the UK. eBay is the leading destination, followed by Gumtree and Amazon. Online shoppers in Australia are looking for inspiration as well as value for money but the delivery experience is also of crucial importance. Three quarters (75%) consider delivery ratings influential when shopping on digital marketplaces, compared to 58% in the UK.
Tracked Returns to Australia
Over one in 10 (12%) Australian online shoppers has returned an item purchased from a UK site. The research also found that 73% of Australian online shoppers would track every item they order if the service was available. 75% of Australian online shoppers consider it important to be able to track a return to a retailer.
Royal Mail International has developed a new Tracked Returns service in Australia to give customers confidence and provide peace of mind, alongside giving retailers greater visibility of their stock.
How the Tracked Returns service operates
• Royal Mail sets retailers up on a secure returns portal
• The retailer designs a branded returns page and directs customers to its page by providing them with a web link
• Customers can access the returns site and once they have inputted their details online they receive a confirmation email
• The email contains a link to download the returns label with instructions on how to post the return item
• The returns package is delivered using a tracked service provided by the local Postal Operator (Australia Post) to an in-country hub for transport back to the UK
• When returned items arrive in the UK, they are delivered to the designated ‘returns’ address via Royal Mail’s tracked domestic network.
For UK businesses wanting to grow internationally, it's important to understand the distinct shopping habits of consumers in different countries. At Royal Mail, we have experience delivering into 230 countries and territories worldwide. Retailers that tune into the different ways in which consumers shop across the globe, are likely to be more successful on an international scale.
* During a three-month period.
