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Aussies to spend $54,000 a minute online this Christmas: NRA

Hand of female using mobile phone to online shopping. Christmas and New Year holiday online shopping concept. Big sale in winter holiday.

Australians are expected to spend $54,437 per minute in online sales over the six weeks to Christmas this year, with total online spend to hit $3.6 billion – a 22.5 per cent increase on 2018’s sales, according to the National Retail Association.

Pureplay online players are expected to see sales increase 18 per cent to $1.3 billion this year, while omnichannel retailers will see a 27 per cent increase to $2.3 billion. 

National Retail Association chief executive Dominique Lamb said she expects retailers that offer a unique in-store experience, coupled with a savvy online sales avenue, to perform well this holiday season. 

“Customers are now placing a greater emphasis on their experience at the shops, and not only traditional factors such as quality and price. Those who are driving in modern retail offer interactive services that engage shoppers in new and exciting ways,” Lamb said. 

“It’s a vital time of year for retailers across the nation. A bumper Christmas harvest not only has a positive impact on the bottom line, it can also help sustain many smaller operators during quieter periods.”

In total, Australian retail is expected to see $50.1 billion in sales, 3 per cent above 2018’s figure of $48.6 billion, according to the NRA.

The NRA’s headline figure is below the Australian Retailers Association’s expectations – which was down in the previous year – signalling a potentially muted holiday period for retailers. 

Earlier this week, the ARA posited total holiday spend would reach almost $53 billion – a 2.6 per cent growth on 2018’s figures, down on the 2.9 per cent growth expected last year.

This growth is expected to be the result of what has been a turbulent year in retail, as well as the effects of catastrophic bushfires burning across Australia.

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