Although most Internet users in Russia prefer to shop in specialized retail stores, there are bright spots ahead for online sales in the country, according to a new report from eMarketer Inc. The report “Russia, an Online Shopping Mecca,” is based on a survey of active Internet users in the country by ROMIR Monitoring, a Moscow-based market research firm.
ROMIR found that 95% of Internet users surveyed would go to specialized stores to purchase items such as computers and component parts, mobile phones, household goods, furniture, clothes, footwear and jewelry. In comparison, only 23% said they would shop at online stores.
But eMarketer notes that online shopping was most popular with Internet users ages 20 to 24 and those with annual income above RBL25,000 ($936.33). Both groups indicated that 68% had shopped online. “The trend would seem to indicate that as the young grow older and the Russian economy improves, there will be increasing numbers of online shoppers,” eMarketer says.
The survey also showed that geography played an important role in determining online shopping preferences. While 41% of online shoppers are in Moscow, only 3% of Internet users in Siberia shop online.
ROMIRA surveyed 2,296 active Internet users in Russia aged 20 and above.
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