IMRG research reveals that online retailers have seen a fall in revenue since the strikes began.

Two thirds of online retailers have seen an average 30 per cent fall in revenue since the national postal strikes began, new research has revealed.

A study by the Interactive Retail in Media Group (IMRG) found that 85 per cent of firms believe the industrial action will put consumers off ordering goods via the internet, despite the fact that their items could be delivered by alternative parcel delivery providers such as Parcel2Go.com.

Figures from the IMRG Member Experian Hitwise show that there were moderate decreases in traffic to online retail sites between October 10th and 17th.

Meanwhile, 60 per cent of retailers said they have used alternative parcel delivery providers, which could include Parcel2Go.com, and found them to be more efficient than Royal Mail.

David Smith, director of operations at the researcher, said online retailers will continue to suffer from national postal strikes.

"It is no surprise that online retailers are becoming more concerned as the strike develops. Christmas is the most important sales period of the year for most retailers and any year-on-year shortfall will affect them greatly," he stated.

Research carried out by IMRG last month found that 77 per cent of companies believed that consumers would be put off buying goods on the internet because of the postal strikes.

Written by Mark Moore


Article Added: 03/11/2009 16:43:45