Cyber Monday Hits Record Sales This Year According to Postcode Anywhere

Worcester, United Kingdom, December 06, 2013 --(PR.com)-- This Christmas shopping season got off to a bumper start this week, with record numbers of shoppers heading online, according to the “what’s your postcode?” company, Postcode Anywhere.

The tech specialists have today revealed that almost six million delivery addresses were captured via its online data platform on Cyber Monday, confirming that the first Monday of December really is the busiest day for online shopping. This represents almost a 90% increase from the 3.3 million addresses looked up last year.

Of the 5.9 million customers looking to validate their address, over a fifth used either a mobile or tablet device.

The addressing firm found that address looks ups peaked in the early evening after people returned home from work and headed online to get their Christmas shopping under way.

The research comes just after Black Friday, when many UK shops followed the US tradition of discounting on the Friday after the US Thanksgiving public holiday. According to Postcode Anywhere this was also very popular for e-commerce merchants with more than 5.6 million addresses captured that day.

Guy Mucklow commented: “It’s clear Cyber Monday is growing each year in recognition, with savvy consumers heading online in search of a festive bargain and trying to avoid the overly crowded high-street. After several years of tough recession, dwindling high street footfall and steadily declining sales, it’s great to see that the industry is finally back on the up. Consumer confidence is returning and sales are once again beginning to increase.

"Our research suggests that in preparation for Christmas this year, more and more of us are using mobile devices to search for Christmas gifts on the go. The popularity of the smartphone during the past few years, alongside increased data speeds and better optimised mobile websites has completely reshaped the way we use the internet and is having profound effect on the way we shop."

Although spirits may be brightening, Guy warns e-commerce merchants not to become complacent. He adds: “With online sales increasing year-on-year, it’s never been more important to ensure that e-commerce sites are well placed to serve these needs. We would urge online businesses to take the time to make sure that small things aren't damaging their performance. The importance of a clean, quick and professional-looking website, this year, cannot be underestimated.”

For more information about Postcode Anywhere’s range of e-commerce services, please visit the Postcode Anywhere website.