1 in 2 Aussies to Buy Toys Online This Christmas

With Aussies now spending as much as $21.3 billion online each year, it’s no surprise that digital shopping channels are expected to see a boost in traffic and revenue over the busy holiday season.

According to Australia Post, the average Aussie will spend $200 buying gifts online this Christmas. In fact, the post office expects to see a 30 percent surge in the amount of goods purchased online over the festive season when compared to the same period in 2017.

The Group Chief Operating Officer at Australia Post, Bob Black says that the company’s posties and delivery drivers have already seen a surge in the number of parcels being delivered across the country.

“Christmas is always our busiest time of the year and this year it will be even busier, with our research showing that almost one in three Australian consumers expect to do more Christmas shopping online this year than last Christmas,” Black said.

The research has also revealed that at its peak, two million parcels will be delivered across Australia each day, with toys and games being the most popular category for online shoppers. According to Australia Post’s research, 48 percent of Australians said they would purchase toys and games online, followed by fashion and jewellery at 38 percent and homewares and appliances at 31 percent.

“Almost 45 per cent of Australians shop for children first, followed by their partner (35 per cent). Mum has the edge over dad, with 22 per cent of Australians buying for her first, compared to dad at 14 per cent. Then about 44 per cent of us, treat ourselves last,” he said.

Of the pool of 2,000 consumers surveyed by Australia Post, 66 percent reportedly said they plan to shop online to avoid crowds, while 53 percent said they prefer the range they can find online. Forty-five percent of consumers also said online shopping is preferential over the festive season because they’re more likely to find a bargain online than they are in-store.

As more and more people start to plan their Christmas shopping around key online events in October and November, Black says that Australia Post starts seeing an increase in parcel volumes as early as September, well before Click Frenzy, Black Friday and Cyber Monday start clogging up the delivery network.

“November is when we start to see parcel volumes really ramp up, with most Australians starting their online shopping now. However, we start delivering Christmas gifts as early as September, with more than 10 per cent of Australians starting their festive shopping in that month.”

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