NPD e-VISORY® SHOWS ONLINE SALES
REACHED $12.2 BILLION FOR THE HOLIDAY 2000 SEASON
Travel Reservations Category Comes Out On Top
PORT WASHINGTON, NY, January 16, 2001
-
Online holiday revenues reached an all-time high of $12.2 billion,
reports leading marketing information provider The NPD Group, Inc.
Although this is slightly lower than forecast, online sales nearly
doubled during November and December, compared to the same period
last year. Findings are reported in NPD’s latest e-Visory Report,
a study of 2,439 Internet users.
Because of high price points, online travel
reservations accounted for the largest portion of the online revenue,
capturing 21% of total sales. Travel, computer hardware, apparel,
toys, consumer electronics and books comprised 60% of online
revenues during the holidays. Auctions and financial services made
up another 12%.
Online Sales by Category
November and December
in Millions of Dollars
| Travel reservations |
$2,551 MM |
| Computer hardware / Peripherals |
$1,216 |
| Apparel |
$1,144 |
| Auctions |
$937 |
| Toys |
$839 |
| Consumer electronics |
$810 |
| Books |
$774 |
| Financial services |
$539 |
| Music |
$443 |
| Flowers/Greetings/Gift items |
$420 |
| Computer software |
$359 |
| Movies/Videos/DVDs |
$348 |
| Office and school supplies |
$291 |
| Grocery items |
$240 |
| Beauty* |
$233 |
| Sporting goods |
$222 |
| Video games |
$198 |
| Shoes |
$175 |
| Prescription drugs |
$141 |
| Pet supplies |
$113 |
| Other categories |
$207 |
| Total Projection |
$12,200 |
(*Beauty includes all
beauty-related items)
"Compared to last year, online toy merchants were
much better prepared," said Michael Redmond, senior account manager
of NPD Leisure Activities’ toys division. "Consumers who shopped
online shopped earlier and avoided some of the problems they may
have encountered last year. I think the surge in sales is evidence
that e-tailers were ready and prepared to handle the holiday season
shopping rush," said Redmond.
TOP 20 SITES AT WHICH CONSUMERS SAID THEY SPENT THE MOST MONEY
- Amazon.com
- EBay.com
- BarnesandNoble.com
- JCPenney.com
- EToys.com
- ToysRUs.com
- Wal-mart.com
- Travelocity.com
- Yahoo.com
- Half.com
- IQVC.com
- LandsEnd.com
- EddieBauer.com
- Buy.com
- VictoriasSecret.com
- CDnow.com
- Priceline.com
- KBToys.com
- LLBean.com
- 1800flowers.com
Despite the slowdown in the U.S. economy, e-tailers
fared well in the holiday season, even as sales were somewhat
disappointing for many retailers. Online leaders Amazon.com,
eBay.com, eToys.com, Travelocity.com, Yahoo.com, Half.com, Buy.com,
Cdnow.com, and Priceline.com reigned as the top pure plays in the
industry. Multi-channel retailers that also offer catalog or direct-to-consumer
sales were on the top 20 list. They are Barnes and Noble, JCPenney,
Lands End, Eddie Bauer, Victoria’s Secret, L.L. Bean, 1-800-Flowers,
and IQVC. Retail giant Wal*Mart and toy retailers Toys-R-Us and KB
Toys round out the top 20.
"After all of the worry and hype, online sales just about lived
up to expectations," commented Pamela Smith, vice president of NPD
Online Research. "The stage is set for consumers to move more of
their purchases online," she said. "But just like any other retail
channel, e-tailers now need to understand what is important to their
buyers and learn how to profitably deliver on these needs."
|
