How are the sectors tracking through COVID-19?

Overall online spend has increased significantly over 2020 and especially over the April and May Alert levels. As a result, most sectors are now enjoying higher levels of spend but a couple of sectors find themselves with spend numbers below where they were 12 months ago.

Let’s look at each of the sectors and what’s driving their performance so far in 2020 (Jan – July).

 

graph-clothing-footwear

Sector size –  $600m (18%)
Spend – up 20%
Transactions – up 13%
Basket size – up 6%
New customers – 261,729

50% of new customers are aged between 40-65.

 

graph-department-retail

Sector size -  $967m (30%)
Spend – up 26%
Transactions – up 19%
Basket size – up 5%
New customers – 263,740

Taranaki, Northland and Gisborne had the highest growth for this sector at 51%, 46% and 41% respectively.

 

graph-health-beauty

Sector size -  $248m (8%)
Spend – down 0.3 %
Transactions – up 3%
Basket size – down 4%
New customers – 238,885

While overall online spend in this sector is declining in 2020, local spend is up 9%.    

 

graph-homeware

Sector size -  $506m (16%)
Spend – up 58%
Transactions – up 60%
Basket size – down 1%
New customers – 377,807

This sector has gained the most new customers over 2020 including almost 97,000 new customers in May. 

 

graph-recreation

Sector size -  $180m (6%)
Spend – down 14 %
Transactions – down 8%
Basket size – down 7%
New customers – 255,928 

While overall online spend in this sector is declining in 2020, spend with local retailers is up 7%. 

 

graph-speciality

Sector size -  $749m (23%)
Spend – up 55%
Transactions – up 42%
Basket size – up 10%
New customers – 364,512

Sunday has become the most popular day for shopping in this sector, making up more than 25% of spend. This was only 10% pre-COVID-19.

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eCommerce Market Sentiments 2025

Our annual look at how online retailers and shoppers saw the last year and what they are expecting and prioritising in the year ahead. Along with key insights, it features three in-depth studies – including our new optimising delivery research - to help you grow your online business.