UK: S-commerce revenues to double in next 5 years

The next generation of shoppers will be a social one, claims Barclays, as sites like Pinterest and Facebook further blur the boundaries between social and shopping.

By 2012, 41% of the population of the UK will be using s-commerce, says Barclays. That forecast rises significantly among younger users. Currently, 45% of 25 to 34 year olds already engage in s-commerce but that figure is set to rise to a whopping 73% by 2012.

In terms of revenues, they are set to more than double in the next five years from $2.2 billion to $5 billion. Retailers in the fashion, footwear, music, film and grocery industries are expected to see the most significant gains.

"Shopping has always been a social activity right back to the days when people bartered rather than paid for goods. It wasn't until the arrival of e-commerce that the social aspect of shopping was removed," said Richard Lowe, Head of Retail & Wholesale at Barclays, in a recent press release.

"For most consumers the social element is fundamental - shopping it is a leisure activity in the British psyche - so being able to reintroduce this aspect into the online purchasing process is a powerful tool for retailers".

Tags: consumer behavior, consumer insight, ecommerce, online shopping, retail, s-commerce, social commerce