The Rise of Online Shopping in the UK: A Detailed Analysis

This report examines the significant growth of online shopping in the UK, particularly highlighting the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns. The report analyzes trends from 2017 to 2020, showing a sharp increase in online retail sales, especially during the peak of the pandemic in May 2020. The study discusses factors contributing to this surge, such as convenience and safety. The report also explores the implications for the retail industry, including job losses in the offline sector and the rise of e-commerce platforms, along with references to the UK's total retail sales and internet sales percentages. The report also provides insights into the shift towards digital shopping modes, driven by factors like fast-paced lifestyles and technological advancements, with the expectation that this trend will continue. The provided assignment is a detailed analysis of online shopping trends and the impact of the pandemic in the UK market.

Online shopping is one basic term that raise profitability of e-
commerce business. In these kind of activities, situation of
COVID or lockdown also impacted in direct and direct manner.
In this respect, major components added to customers going to
online shopping, including setting aside time and cash,
particularly since internet shopping has gotten simpler and
more problem free than any other time. This impact positively
over the online market by improving growth opportunities for
them.
On the basis of above graphical representation it has been
summarised that due to the rise of online shopping, the retail
industry of UK seen some major issues as job losses, offline
products sales and so on. These kind of practices impact
negatively upon those sellers who only deals in offline market.
But it also raised opportunity to develop their own place
through e-commerce platform.
Rationale:
Main reason behind choosing this topic is to evaluate and
represent an unexpected boom in the online shopping and e-
commerce business practices due to the situation of lockdown.
Main reason behind this is a desired time period or cost
effective services. All these practices provide several
opportunities to the business person who wants desired growth
in a limited period.
Rise in online shopping in UK
With the increase in usage of smartphones and more
safety features about data and methods of payments’ protection
in place, UK has seen more and more customers shifting
towards digital shopping mode. With fast paced life and less
time to spend on physical shopping, digital shopping has come
across as a solution for both customers and businesses.
Therefore, more and more numbers of retailers and other
brands are providing options for online shopping. Businesses
are continuously improving their technologies to give
customers enhanced experience. This trend saw a sharp surge
during lockdown induced because of coronavirus pandemic.
This period saw shopping of not just essentials like groceries
but also of non-essentials like games, interiors, etc. online.
As evident in the above graph, it can be seen that
ecommerce and online shopping has seen continuous
increase in UK from 2017 to 2020, but due to coronavirus
situation and lockdown restrictions on physical shopping,
most of the people resort to online shopping, marking the
biggest surge in May 2020. This trend is expected to
continue as situation has not yet normalised and winter
holidays and Christmas season is about to come.
Above graph reflects the position of UK’s total retail sales
and it can be clearly seen in the graph that the trend for
digital shopping has continuously increased. In the
beginning of 21st century, it was near to zero percent, from
then to 2020, it has seen gradual increase while in 2020,
owing to lockdown, it has experienced sharp surge.
Poster
Introduction
Raise in online shopping
Conclusion
From the above presentation it has been summarised that the
situation of lockdown raised some unexpected opportunities
for the e-commerce business. It benefits to not only large
businesses but also to small business or new start-ups.
References
A nation of shopkeepers shaken by the shift online. 2020. [Online]. Available
through :< https://www.ft.com/content/63338a71-2ce9-463b-a8cb-
7b4001494c77>
Ecommerce 2020: The latest data and forecasts for all things online retail
growth. 2020. [Online]. Available through:<
https://www.smartinsights.com/digital-marketing-strategy/online-retail-sales-
growth/>
Internet sales as a percentage of total retail sales (ratio) (%). 2020. [Online].
Available
through:<https://www.ons.gov.uk/businessindustryandtrade/retailindustry/
timeseries/j4mc/drsi>