Mystery Shoppers

Featured Article September '09

 

Man or Mouse?

Is the age old stereotype concerning women and shopping about to be turned on its head? The PayPal UK Online Retail Report has revealed that in reality it is men who now outspend women on the internet, with almost three million more male online shoppers than female.

Men spent more than women in every category except groceries and clothing and considering that groceries are usually bought with the intention of feeding the entire family, both male and female, it is clear that online retail is in actuality a male domain.

So why does the internet receive such a different response from men to the high street? Perhaps it is the simplicity or convenience which appeals. Perhaps it is because men normally shop for specific necessities, whilst shopping has become more of a social hobby for women. However, as a woman who has spent time attempting to shop on the high street whilst trailing an unwilling male a long way behind her, I would suggest that a significant factor is the ability to purchase items without having to miss the football, cricket or any other ‘unmissable’ match.

We believe that these statistics are more than just entertaining trivia, but can be utilised to your advantage. Numerous websites tend to be tailored towards women. To take advantage of the online male shopaholic phenomena and maximise your website’s potential it should instead be made neutral or even be directed more towards men, depending upon the specialisation. Websites should be redolent of simplicity, efficiency and speed to capture the attraction of online shopping to males. These undemanding changes will help you to take advantage of this new trend.

So whilst these figures lend themselves to stimulating debate, don’t leave them there as they can provide you with the opportunity to boost your sales potential. Come on, are you man or mouse?

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