Online sales of non-food products in the UK grew by 14.2% compared to the same time last year, surpassing the 12-month average of 12.1%, according to the BRC-KPMG Online Retail Sales Monitor.
Furniture saw the second highest growth amongst non-food categories, aided by the Bank Holiday that took place in early September. The British Retail Consortium also reported that an increasing number of shoppers were using online and mobile commerce sites.
“Although bricks-and-mortar shops were the stars this month with great sales strength, online is proving itself to be a successful steady contributor to overall sales all year round, said CEO of the British Retail Consortium Helen Dickinson. “September’s online furniture sales were particularly fruitful, with the best sales growth since records began in December 2012. Some exclusively online retailers are now opening physical shops in attempts to connect with more customers and showcase products in the way only shops with a front door can.”
Among such online retailers is Loaf, which opened its first ‘Loaf Shack‘ in Battersea, London, earlier this year.
Company founder Charlie Marshall said at the time that although Loaf‘s commitment was making “shopping for furniture online as simple and as hassle-free as possible,” there remained “a large number of customers that want to see and touch the product before they buy.”
