Two-thirds of Brits purchase homewares online

Two-thirds (66%) of 800 or so British respondents to Wayfair UK's survey go online to purchase homeware items. The majority of these shoppers were aged between 18 and 24, reports The Multichannel Retailer.com.

The average amount spent on decorating was between 1000 and 3000 in the first month of moving. This rises to up to 5000 among 35 to 44 year olds.

Older shoppers were more likely to purchase brand new items (63%), whereas younger homemakers were more likely to purchase second-hand items with just 36% buying new.

"It's interesting to note the commitment that people show to improving their homes," said John Kennedy, managing director at Wayfair UK.

"When you consider the difficult economic climate we are currently experiencing, I think it just goes to show how much value people place on having a happy and comfortable home from which to have their lives."

Accountancy & business services firm BDO's April High Street Sales Tracker showed that overall like-for-like sales at mid-tier retailers fell 0.8% year-on-year in April when the weather played havoc with fashion sales. People instead turned to updating their homes with homewares like-for-like sales picking up during April, rising 14% annually.

Tags: homewares sector, Internet, online sales, online shopping, property, retail