Online Clothing Sales Surpass Computers for the First Time; To Hit $22.1B in 2007
Americans last year spent more online on
clothing than they did on computers for the first time in history, according
to the first part of The State of Retailing Online 2007 report by
Shop.org and Forrester Research. The report found the apparel, accessories
and footwear category reached $18.3 billion in 2006 and is expected to hit
$22.1 billion in 2007.
This year, 10% of all clothing sales are expected to occur online. The report suggests that the apparel and accessories category has experienced strong sales because of an influx of new companies and liberal shipping policies such as free shipping on returns and exchanges.
Computer hardware and software, long the frontrunner for non-travel online sales, moved into second place in 2006 at $17.2 billion, followed by sales of autos and auto parts ($16.7 billion) and home furnishings ($10 billion).
According to the report, 2007 online sales (including travel) are expected to rise 18% to $259.1 billion. Sales excluding travel will reach $174.5 billion.
