The North and Yorkshire regions represented the highest portion of Google searches for the second quarter of 2018, with 26 per cent compared to Greater London’s 23 per cent.
According to the British Retail Consortium’s (BRC) latest Google Online Retail Monitor, overseas mobile searches for UK brands also grew by 17 per cent for the period, up from 13 per cent in the first quarter of the year.
That could be attributed to rising popularity of UK brands overseas, or UK tourists indulging in some online retail therapy while they travel.
The beauty segment reported year-on-year growth of 10 per cent for UK mobile users in the quarter, while home and garden saw the highest year-on0year growth for overseas mobile searches, up 29 per cent.
“The scorching summer sun has inevitably meant that online searches for home and garden products – like barbeques and garden furniture – were among the top search terms across Europe and beyond,” BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson said.
“Online retail search activity is maintaining its growth trajectory, being driven by consumers moving online to shop.
“Given this growth, some retailers will be looking at the opportunities for exporting offers to other countries.”
Dickinson added, “these trends will continue as retailers continue to invest in the evolution of their online offering for shoppers.”
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