The pandemic has changed our way of living a lot. It has affected the way we learn, work, interact with each other, socialize… and shop. According to a recent study, approximately 70% of Brits now say they prefer to shop online and find physical stores less convenient.
Online shopping habits in the UK have adapted to the new situation, consumers truly favour marketplaces and other e-commerce stores, and this trend is here to stay with us with or without lockdowns. We have experienced a rapid rise in e-commerce, and shoppers will continue to purchase products on their laptops or mobiles, so there’s never been a better time to sell your items online.
In this article, we will provide you with an overview of the online shopping habits of consumers in the UK and their general view regarding online payments.
ONLINE SHOPPING HAS CHANGED FOREVER
In recent years, there has been a shift toward a digital world and, as a result, towards online shopping in the UK and all over the globe.
Before diving deeply into the numerous ways online shopping habits have been transformed, we would like to mention that online stores went through a huge development. Nowadays, they offer plenty of benefits, safe and secure payments, and vendors provide a concise and clear policy.
People have realized that it is great to shop for their favourite products from the comfort of their homes, without reorganizing their busy schedules, looking for car parks, spending long hours in overcrowded shops, and without being restricted by geographical boundaries.
Customers’ online shopping habits in the UK have been reshaped by marketplaces such as FaceTill that offer great comfort and have built trust with customers.
A preference for contactless payments
Consumers now prefer e-commerce platforms and contactless payments.
Some years ago, when consumers wanted to buy a product on the internet, online payments and all the risks associated with them prevented many of them from purchasing items online. Now online transactions are more secure than ever before as there have been many advancements in the field of digital payments.
Though online payments were often a barrier to purchasing something on the internet, consumers recognized that offline payments are not perfect either.
Online shops, marketplaces are now designed and built with extremely strict security in mind. Online transactions are protected by SSL certificates, firewalls, second authentications factors, and encrypted card data, just to mention a few.
This advancement in secure online payments has also contributed to the changing online shopping habits in the UK and all over the world. E-commerce is growing significantly, and the online shopping experience is exciting and convenient.
BRITS STICK TO THEIR ONLINE BUYING HABITS
Online sales have increased dramatically over the past few years, and the majority of Brits seem to stick to these habits.
61% of surveyed consumers admitted that they have shopped online more during the pandemic and now more than 90% of them feel safe when it comes to buying products and paying online.
We experience this increase in many areas, including clothes, electronics, as well as furniture, and home accessories.
Indeed, as a result of recent events, our attention has more and more turned towards our homes, so it comes as no surprise that 29% of people in the UK have admitted that their online shopping for home and garden products has increased.
And it’s not only about quantity. Online shopping habits in the UK have changed regarding consumers’ perspectives too. We don’t just shop more; we are also more open to new online stores or marketplaces.
Due to this rapid growth of e-commerce, more and more businesses – small and medium-sized alike – had to join the new trend and offer their products online too.
SUSTAINABILITY MATTERS
Consumers in the UK have different reasons for shopping online – and sustainability has become a driving force. More and more people are sustainability conscious, and they prefer buying products with less or greener packaging.
Sustainability is the path we would like to follow at FaceTill. On this marketplace, you have the option to display your items in the ‘Green Products’ category. This way, sellers can contribute to a greener, environmentally conscious lifestyle, and buyers have the option to choose products that are sustainable and respect the environment.
WHY CHOOSE A MARKETPLACE FOR SHOPPING ONLINE
As e-commerce has grown, more and more people turn to marketplaces to buy their favourite products. Online marketplaces have plenty of advantages for buyers and sellers as well.
For sellers, one of the biggest benefits is that they don’t have to set up their online store in order to sell their products. With this opportunity, they can start their online business with low start-up costs.
Marketing costs are also lower, and you can take advantage of the audience an established marketplace provides. You can operate 24/7, and even sell your products overseas.
Moreover, you can easily compare the prices of similar vendors, and as a result, you can set the right prices for your products – a price that is not too high and not too low.
A marketplace not only offers benefits to sellers but also to customers.
Consumers choose marketplaces over individual online stores for many reasons.
Due to a large number of competitors, many brands are trying to win the attention of customers. As a result, they can find competitive pricing, high-quality products, and incredible deals if they purchase products here.
Though online shopping has become incredibly popular in the UK and all over the world, it’s still rather difficult to build trust with consumers when it comes to e-commerce. With a marketplace, there are several guarantees, and quick and easy return policies to make sure that the customer trusts the online transaction.
On a marketplace, you will find authentic ratings and reviews, so you can trust the quality of the product and the seller as well.
A marketplace offers everything a buyer needs in this fast-paced world – convenience, easy access, fast delivery of products.
The whole shopping experience is simplified, and buyers are assured that all transactions are safe, not to mention the fact that consumers can usually create their own wish lists.
As a result, they get instant notification whenever their favourite products are back in stock.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Online shopping habits have changed, there is no doubt about it. Remember that a marketplace offers safe payments and fantastic selection. Join FaceTill and reveal all the great opportunities.
& 
in London
