“We see a clear tendency – the number of online shoppers is growing and more of them are buying items online after seeing them in traditional shopping centres and comparing their prices. 48% of our shoppers claim that they visit traditional shopping centre and compare the prices of items before deciding to buy it. Later they look around to see where they can purchase the item for less and end up in our shop. Shoppers check the prices not only of large and bulkier items, such as fridges, TVs, furniture, but also the prices of smaller items, such as perfume, clothes, shoes, leisure, and tourism equipment. We can assert that conservative and traditional shopping methods give way to much smarter and less time consuming internet shopping,” said internet shop manager Dainius Liulys.
The change in shopper behaviour is backed up by a recent survey carried out by RAIT. 51% of Lithuania’s residents believe that it is cheaper to buy a wanted item over the internet than it is in a shop.
Total turnover of the two online shops that belong to company “Pigu” in Lithuania and Latvia reached 26 mln litas in the first five years. The turnover of the internet shop “220.lv” amounted to 8 mln litas, and in Lithuania – 18 mln litas. This was 64% more than over the same period in 2012. The company is planning to finish this year with a total 80 mln litas in turnover.
Translated by Darius Mikulėnas
I use the Internet when I cannot find something in a shop. Unfortunately, I’m using German and English sites. All of the Lithuanian sites I have found did not take credit cards or pay pal. All wanted bank drafts, and I am not set up for that. My rule for shopping is, if at all possible, first local, then within Vilnius, then LT Internet, then EU Internet. I also use the net all the time to find shops in various parts of the city. Good websites are a must.