Amazon, WalMart pushing ecommerce traffic

According to a report from STORES Media, conducted by BIGresearch, the top five online retail hubs are Amazon.com, Walmart.com, eBay.com, BestBuy.com and JCPenney.com.

"Online retailers have proven they are up to the challenge of building a loyal customer base, and will continue to be preferred destinations for many as the Internet continues to mature," said Susan Reda, Editor, STORES Media. "Multichannel retailers have done a commendable job understanding what their customers are looking for and providing a favorable, seamless shopping experience to millions of people every day - no matter how they choose to shop."

The key is for retailers to remain relevant both online and offline because, according to researchers, consumers are choosing online hubs not just because of price. Smart shoppers are looking at return policies, shipping options and even the quality of the merchandise purchased.

"Consumers who were solely focused on price a year ago are still looking for good deals but are also evaluating return policies, merchandise quality and free shipping as part of the buying equation," said Pam Goodfellow, Senior Analyst, BIGresearch.

To prove the point, the report notes that brands such as Express, Aeropostale and Banana Republic have moved into the Top 50 Online Retailers survey after a year's absence. Also on the list are Overstock.com (#9), Nike (#50) and Kohls (#7).

Tags: Amazon.com, BIGresearch, consumer habits, ecommerce, etailing, online shopping, Walmart.com