SmartHomeOwners

Internet shopping has grown tremendously over the past decade.  Users are more confident than ever to make online purchases, and improved technology has provided access to the Web for millions of families.  But who's using the Internet to shop and why?  Although both men and women shop online, Internet retail statistics show time and time again that women account for most of the Web market.

According to statistics published on She-conomy.com, 22 percent of women shop online at least once per day, and 92 percent pass along information about good deals to friends. 51 percent of these avid online shoppers also happen to be moms!

These statistics shouldn't steer marketers away from promotions to men.  But marketers must understand that men and women shop differently.  Men are often driven by the desire to buy only one product at a time.  They tend to be more focused than women in their online shopping mission, with their goal being to get to a particular website, buy the item, and get out as fast as possible.  Women, on the other hand, tend to "get lost" in the world of Internet shopping and may be enticed to buy other items...even if totally unrelated to the main purchase intended.

Bargain Hunting

Women and men both tend to hunt for bargains on the Web. Men are drawn to using coupons while women tend to enjoy those last-minute online sales.  Women also focus on brand names more than men, and are likely to pay more for a certain brand name, even if the next brand is of equal quality.

The reasons for shopping online vary from season to season.  Women shop for hard-to-find items such as brand name clothing (in certain sizes), electronics, shoes, designer jewelry and purses, children's products, home decor, paintings, furniture, and thousands of other products.  They shop online for gifts for holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, etc.  Men often shop for business products and supplies, sports gear, and electronics. 

Both men and women often do plenty of research online before making major purchases to find product reviews and comparisons.