Retailers Down on Direct Sales, Suggests Survey

According to a new survey by Shopatron, 71% of respondents would stop or reduce spending with brands that started to compete with them by selling direct to consumers. The findings from this year’s survey also indicate that 57% of respondents confirm that they increase their spend with brands that send them orders using Shopatron. This reflects more than a 10% increase over the 2011 survey.

The survey’s findings also shed light on current omni-channel retail trends. Retailers showed a clear affinity for in-store pickup, with 60% of respondents reporting that they would buy more from brands that send them in-store pickup orders. And retailers reported that mobile shopping is on the rise with 86% observing that customers are now using mobile phones while shopping in stores, most often to compare prices, obtain product information and check product reviews.

Based on this year’s survey results, local brick-and-mortar retailers are also extending their reach into new online channels. More than four in 10 of survey respondents are selling in online marketplaces such as eBay and Amazon, and of those, 45% saw a year-over-year sales increase.

“The eCommerce world is changing rapidly, and brands are faced with the challenge of finding ways to sell direct while remaining strong partners with their valued retailers,” said Shopatron Founder and CEO, Ed Stevens.