Catalgoues inform online retail purchases, new research has suggested.

Nearly half of consumers who engage in online retail check print catalogues before purchasing goods via the internet, new research has found.

According to the Royal Mail Home Shopping Tracker 2009, 45 per cent of shoppers search catalogues before buying items, an increase of eight per cent compared to 2008.

The survey found that posted catalogues inform 37 per cent of all online retail purchases, up from 11 per cent the previous year, with the majority of respondents saying they are most helpful when buying clothes, furniture and toiletries.

Antony Miller, head of media development at Royal Mail, said combining both mediums brings many benefits for consumers.

"Catalogues and the internet offer a powerful combination of information, showing the importance of using the two channels together in the marketing mix," he stated.

According to the Interactive Media in Retail Group's Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index, December was a healthy month for online retail sales.

Posted by Mark Moore

Article Added: 25/02/2010 09:25:52