By Gene Koprowski E-Commerce Times
01/20/06 5:00 AM PT
Consumers are searching for an array of cribs online, such as traditional slatted wood and iron canopy styles to co-sleepers and bassinets. Safety standards have drastically changed -- for the better -- so online merchants are offering enhanced product descriptions and consumer reviews written by other new parents.
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The Christmas shopping season may be officially over -- but online shopping continues to flourish with consumers still scrambling to buy iPods, XBox 360s, DVDs and baby cribs and strollers. Cribs and strollers?
The Shopping.com Consumer Demand Index (CDI) for the period of December 26, 2005 to January 8, 2006 indicates that indeed, online searches for baby cribs increased by 86 percent during the reporting period.
A spokesperson from Shopping.com said that for the third year in a row, Shopping.com's CDI shows that January is when thoughts turn to the new year and "the new arrival."
Motherhood on the Brain
With the economy in growth mode, consumers are turning toward maternity as a primary focus. Multiple births -- e.g. twins or triplets -- are on the rise too, apparently.
Consumers are searching for an array of cribs online, such as traditional slatted wood and iron canopy styles to co-sleepers and bassinets. Safety standards have drastically changed -- for the better -- so online merchants are offering enhanced product descriptions and consumer reviews written by other new parents.
Shopping.com's top ten brands and models searched for this period highlights strollers, according to site officials, with the Maclaren Twin Traveller and Peg Perego Triplette brands topping the stroller category for the first time.
Luxury Goods Online
These products are the luxury goods of the baby products niche, featuring extra leg room, built-in umbrellas and fleece bunting bags for those cold winter days.
A variety of economic statistics indicate increasing consumer confidence in the United States. For example, the Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index rose to 103.6 in December, the highest since before Hurricanes Rita and Katrina struck. The University Of Michigan's Consumer Sentiment Index rose to 91.5 in December, up from 81.6 in November, 2005.
Though online holiday sales received most of the hype this past year, it was a fantastic 12 months overall for products online, as sales over the Internet soared by 25 percent over 2004, according to a report from eMarketer.
The market research firm said online shopping increased in 2005 because baby boomers and young shoppers -- many starting families -- are becoming more and more familiar with the process.
The research firm also said the increase in the use of broadband in U.S. homes played an important factor. New York-based eMarketer said 60 percent of Internet users in 2005 went online via a high-speed connection.
Study: Technology Firms Fare Poorly in Online Customer Service January 10, 2006
"Web sites encourage customers to communicate and ask questions, but this should not be done if questions cannot be handled," said Terry Golesworthy, president of the Customer Respect Group. "Some previously stellar performers showed definite signs of volume overload in this report."
Online Holiday Shopping Roars Past Forecasts December 30, 2005
Nielsen//NetRatings senior analyst Heather Dougherty said looking ahead to 2006, online retail may have trouble sustaining such vigorous growth rates, but that double-digit expansion seems possible for another couple of years.
Study: Men and Women Use Internet Differently December 29, 2005
There is no denying that female shoppers are flexing a lot more monetary muscle on the Internet these days. E-commerce experts are reporting that this demographic was a major factor in the 2004 online holiday shopping season that soared to a 25 percent year-over-year increase to total US$23 billion in revenues.
Online Merchants Choosing Alternative Payment Options December 21, 2005
"Temporary credit cards and transaction numbers are helpful if there is a theft, but I would rather work on preventing theft in the first place," Matt Ornce, COO of EPX, a payment processing company that works with Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express, told the E-Commerce Times.
More by Gene Koprowski
Analysts Mixed on Apple Stock's Future April 12, 2006
"The growth story from Apple is fantastic, but investors' earnings expectations are too high and investors would simply be overpaying for growth in my opinion," said Jason Tillberg, who heads the paper asset division at investment group New York City Cash Flow. "It's a terrific business that I'd love to own -- but just not at this price."
Many 'Addicted' to Cell Phone Use April 13, 2006
"As overall mobile usage grows, people are getting more and more comfortable with the additional features and Web services their phones have to offer," Bill Schwebel, senior vice president, AOL's wireless division, told TechNewsWorld.
More E-Mail, IM Attacks, Fewer Viruses Last Month April 15, 2006
"The increase of IM messages by 4.3 million in one month's time is a clear indication that more corporations are adopting IM as a business communications tool," Andrew Lochart, senior director of marketing for Postini, told TechNewsWorld.
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