Same-store sales have traditionally been the must-have accessory in measuring retail sales effectiveness. But a new generation of consumers may be taking shopping online, and if so, we'll have to look at retail sales in a new light.
Last week, fellow Fools Alyce Lomax and Todd Wenning did a mall run and found a quiet scene with a fairly empty parking lot and empty-handed shoppers. The kids just aren't hitting the malls right now. May's same-store-sales numbers bear that out: Gap
Unlike the Chinese, who view mall shopping as a leisure activity, time-strapped and gas-price-distressed Americans are visiting the mall less often, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers. The bricks-and-mortar trade group found that the "average" American shopper surveyed made an average of 35 shopping trips in 2006, versus 37 trips in 2005. I emphasize "average" because we all know there's a dedicated group of shoppers who can't stay away from the mall, and others who wouldn't go near it if they gave the Mrs. Fields' cookies away for free.
But even these loyal mall shoppers are spending less time at the mall (77.2 minutes per visit, but who's counting?). They are spending more money per trip, with the average splurge coming in at just less than $100, up almost 20% from $83.40 in 2003 (no wonder we're all in debt!), but that makes sense: With gas prices soaring and time pressures always looming, consumers are feeling the push to become more efficient shoppers. So people are simply buying more stuff in fewer trips.
No wonder online shopping is becoming so attractive. The 24/7 ability to shop and the easy access to what you want -- no crowds to fight, and no lines to wait in -- appeal to even the busiest shopper. A study completed by shop.org, an online-retail-industry trade group, and Forrester Research projects a 17% increase in online sales this year, with apparel topping the list at $26.6 billion in revenue. The study segmented online consumers into two groups: casual "price" shoppers and higher-end convenience shoppers -- i.e., those who avoid the mall at all costs.
This jump in Web-based retail shopping isn't anything new: Online clothing sales outpaced computer sales for the first time in 2006. However, even with this increase, Internet-based purchases amounted to only 8% of all apparel sales.
So, unless you're a Web-based retailer such as Amazon.com
Williams-Sonoma
Malls don't have to worry about online sales overtaking their bricks-and-mortar business anytime soon. However, Web-based business is getting large enough that Moody's
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