Sunshine Coast retailers urged to go online to boost sales

Sunshine Coast retailers should also look to online sales to avoid hard economic times according to Tourism, Regional Development Minister Desley Boyle.

“Queensland retailers can learn a lot from the experience of British and US retailers,” Ms Boyles said.

“Research from overseas markets has found that while high street sales have dropped in the recent months of economic doom and gloom, online sales have boomed.

“The Golden Generation report, released in December by international food and grocery insight and information providers IGD, predicts that the value of online food and grocery shopping in the UK will nearly double in size by 2013 to be worth A$13.94 billion.

“Overall, online sales in the 10 weeks leading up to Christmas are expected to top 7.5 billion pounds in Britain.

“People are using the internet to purchase everything from food, alcohol and home wares, to shoes, electrical goods, books, music and clothing.

“And the retailers that are faring best at present are those that have spread their online wings.”

Ms Boyle said international trends were supported by a recent Courier-Mail report that declared continued growth in online shopping in Australia, particularly among 25 to 44-year-olds, ensured those working in the industry would have job security.

“The surge in online sales has been attributed to consumers spending more time researching their purchases to find the best price and value, as well as an improvement in the design of retail websites,” the Minister said.

“A smart online sales strategy seems to be increasingly important for the success of both small and large retailers.

“Website design and search engine speed are the keys to great online sales, and the good news is that Queensland has a highly skilled ICT sector that can assist local businesses with their online sales sites and strategy.

“This is critical because a poorly designed website will frustrate potential shoppers and they will look elsewhere. The online shopping experience must offer something more than an electronic version of a catalogue.”

Ms Boyle said Queensland companies specialising in website design, e-security, voice-recognition software and authentication applications were among Australia’s best.

She added that one Queensland company to have benefited from going online was leading fashion design label Tengdahl.

The company recently partnered with a Brisbane-based website developer, Sauce Software, to create an easy-to-use web-based marketing and customer management system.

According to owner and designer Julie Tengdahl, since launching the website in late 2007 she has experienced a 20-30% increase of online orders and enquiries.

“We recouped our investment in the website after our first email campaign and we’ve had a 100 per cent improvement in reaching the customers in our database. This has resulted in the increased sales – which is great for business,” said Ms Tengdahl.

Tengdahl has most recently updated its website to launch a ‘Boudoir Collection’ on Valentine’s Day, and expects this to be a major part of its marketing for early 2009.

“Good sales websites can boost local business - people who want to research products before walking into a store - as well as increase the geographical footprint of a retailer’s target market. Essentially, you can go global overnight,” said Ms Boyle.

“The Queensland Government offers a range of support for Queensland companies wishing to innovate through adoption of information and communications technologies.

“In June we will be holding a conference and trade show - the ICT Factor - for all small to medium-sized business wishing to find out about how ICT can help their business.
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“I encourage all Queensland business to examine the most up-to-date online technologies to maintain and improve their sales during this time.”

For more information on how to launch your business into cyberspace, contact the Department of Tourism, Regional Development and Industry’s Information Industries Bureau on 07 3405 5117, website: http://www.iib.qld.gov.au

6 February, 2009

Media contact: 3224 2007 or 3225 1005

Contact for Tengdahl: Liz Sharp, telephone: 3391 2772, website: http://tengdahl.com