Did you know that over half of consumers in the United Kingdom and the United States have made purchases from online stores in another country in the last year? In fact, fashion items are the most popular cross-border purchases among shoppers. These findings are from a recent study conducted by Nosto, a leading commerce experience platform, which surveyed 2,000 respondents in April.
Youthful Shoppers Dominate International Shopping
The research reveals that younger age groups are more inclined to shop internationally, with 67.47% of 35 to 44 year-olds, 64% of 25 to 34 year-olds, and 61.4% of 16 to 24 year-olds having made cross-border purchases. In contrast, only 37.2% of those over 55 reported buying from overseas sellers.
It’s no surprise that 70.2% of products bought internationally fall under the fashion and accessories category.
When it comes to cross-border shopping, clothing reigns supreme, accounting for 70.2% of all purchases. Sporting goods and hobbies also see a fair share, with 57.3% falling under this category.
Price Dictates Shopping Decisions
Over half of respondents (53.4%) admitted that rising prices at home prompt them to seek cheaper alternatives overseas. However, excessively low prices make 65.7% of shoppers uneasy about product quality, leading them to reconsider their purchase decisions.
Common Concerns When Shopping Internationally
The majority of shoppers (92%) have reservations about cross-border shopping, with a significant number worried about difficulty in returns (49.75%) and product quality (46.8%).
For online retailers looking to attract international shoppers, providing clear information on returns and taxes is key.
The report suggests that including easily accessible details on returns and taxes can enhance trust among international shoppers. Nearly 69% of respondents agreed that this transparency would positively impact their trust in foreign ecommerce stores. Similarly, offering a customer support hotline in the shopper’s country would boost trust for 64.95% of respondents.
