The Femme Files

Online shopping..Oh the Possibilities…

According to a recent survey conducted by Paypal, Australians are set to spend $30.2 billion online by the end of 2011!

This comes to no surprise to us girls here, where the office door is continually being knocked down with the likes of Australia Post, DHL and any courier worth their weight, delivering everything from scientific glass test tubes to $8,000 cameras and a leather chair. This is to name but a few.

The survey went on to suggest that just three percent of Australians had not yet bought a product or service online. One can only assume the guy with the abacus is part of this minority. With 63% of Australians using overseas websites, it was also nice to see that the vast majority of Aussies- 73%- were using Australian websites to spend their hard earned cash.

Anecdotally, we know how easy it is to buy online. What? With the wonders of express post it is a certain that the oft doubted ability for online to deliver instant gratification is just 12 hours away (why not cure Mondayitis with a special delivery from Victoria’s Secret? Usually works here!)

Interestingly, while it is so easy for us to hit ‘Buy Now’ regardless of our credit card capacity, the research also demonstrated that we are increasingly researching purchases in order to prevent impulse buys. ‘Window’ shopping takes on a whole new meaning therefore, when there are a multitude of different screens on your task bar; ready for you to pop up and compare prices from online shop to online shop.

TopBuy, Australia’s online IT superstore also managed to delve into the habits of Australian shoppers; revealing that a parcel goes out every 30 seconds throughout an eight hour working day. The busiest times? Lunchtime, with a peak day being Wednesday (Hump day anyone?)

And so, in the midst of all those online options; because it’s lunchtime on a Wednesday and in keeping with the desire for us Australians to support Australian sites, we bring you, hands down, the best online purchase we have received here all month. We were in stiches, (again apologies for the pun) when one of the girls purchased the cutest House Warming gift ever!

Take a look; we’ve all gone and put or orders on these cuties this morning. All going well we should be airing them out tonight.

Anyone else seen a beautiful Australian retailer online that deserves a shout out?