eCommerce sales boomed in February despite the overall retail sector slowing down

eCommerce sales boomed in February despite the overall retail sector slowing down

March 19, 2021

Sydney, Australia – 19 March 2021 –  eCommerce sales boomed in February despite the overall retail sector slowing down. Data from eCommerce fulfillment provider eStore Logistics shows that online retail sales increased by 54% YoY in February. Growth is even stronger in Victoria (72%) and Western Australia (78%).

The momentum seen in the last 12 months shows no sign of slowing, and there continues to be dramatic YoY growth for online orders of home and renovation products (145%) as more Aussie homemakers choose to purchase furniture and homewares online rather than in-store. This category has seen incredible growth over the past year, with approximately 100% YoY growth recorded every month.

Fashion and apparel continued to show signs of recovery following a temporary slump over the Christmas period. The category reported 59% YoY growth in February and 61% YoY growth in January. Department stores were also a leading category reporting 51% more sales in February in comparison to last year.

Each state saw strong growth in February.

State-by-state performance

State

% increase vs February 2020

Western Australia 78%

Victoria 72%

Tasmania 49%

New South Wales 47%

Australian Capital Territory 46%

South Australia 42%

Queensland 41%

Leigh Williams, Managing Director, eStore Logistics, said: “The ABS retail figures show that growth in the retail sector is faltering but as our data shows, this is just not the case for eCommerce.

We’re not surprised to see this. From the get-go, we’ve said that the transition to eCommerce is here to stay and I stand by that. The pandemic has accelerated digital literacy and in turn, encouraged more people to shop online frequently.

This growth will continue as more consumers  seek out convenience when it comes to making everyday purchases. We’ve noticed that as online retailers are improving their logistics and fulfilment capabilities, and products are getting out the door faster and more efficiently. This is creating a positive customer experience and as a result, encouraging people to shop online repeatedly.”