2002 Online Holiday Season Kicks Off With A Strong Start in USA

Goldman Sachs, Harris Interactive, and Nielsen//NetRatings have this week revealed the first findings from the 2002 USA eSpending Report, showing that online shopping adoption continues, with customer satisfaction playing a key role in overall shopping for the second consecutive year.

Twenty-two percent of those surveyed this past week rated customer satisfaction as better than their experience last year, helping to yield higher spending. The average online shopper spent nearly $72 per person during the past week ending November 15, a 28 percent increase from the same time in 2001.

The eSpending Report is based upon a weekly national survey of more than 750 online shoppers randomly chosen from Harris Interactive's online panel of survey respondents. The eSpending report offers weekly intelligence on online shopping and spending by market segment and tracks consumer attitudes and motivations that drive online shopping.

'The first findings of the survey provide strong supporting evidence of our long standing ecommerce thesis that as online satisfaction increases, ecommerce would begin to penetrate the mass market and see renewed secular growth,' said Anthony Noto, Internet Analyst, Goldman Sachs. 'Our continued partnership with Harris Interactive and Nielsen//NetRatings to provide the eSpending Report fulfills the immediate need to analyze online shopping trends during the most critical time of the retail season.'

'With ecommerce continuing to grow in share and penetrating mainstream America, it's become more important than ever to track and examine ecommerce buying behavior,' added Lori Iventosch-James, director of ecommerce research, Harris Interactive. 'Boosted by higher customer satisfaction rates and a shorter shopping season, early indications show shoppers are spending more and earlier this year. With Thanksgiving scheduled one week later and Hanukkah beginning much sooner this year, consumers are battling against time and are taking advantage of special sales and promotions. Past trends show shopping activity take off right around Thanksgiving weekend, traditionally jumpstarting the holiday shopping season. However, consumers had the gift of time in the past and with the shopping schedule compacted in a shorter span in 2002, many consumers have no choice but to start shopping and buying earlier this year.'

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas unless otherwise stated.

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