JupiterResearch Reports That 79 Percent of Online Small Businesses Shop Regularly Online for Products and Services
Posted on: Tuesday, 11 July 2006, 09:00 CDT
JupiterResearch, a leading authority on the impact of the Internet and emerging consumer technologies on business, has found that 79 percent of online small businesses conduct business-related online shopping regularly, making it almost as prevalent as the use of email among online small businesses.
Detailed in a new research report, "Small-Business Online Shopping: Understanding Online Research and Purchase Behavior," the report offers advice to marketers and suppliers on how to prioritize their tactics to meet the needs of small businesses online. JupiterResearch has found that supplier or brand familiarity and comparison shopping are two main factors affecting purchasing decisions.
"Traditionally, small businesses have bought from suppliers based on ongoing relationships and we have found that they are emulating this same purchasing behavior online," said Sonal Gandhi, JupiterResearch Analyst and lead author of the report. "Sixty two percent of small business online purchases are influenced by familiarity or an existing on or off-line relationship with a supplier. Comparison shopping, however, also influences almost one-half of the online small business purchases."
The most growth potential for online purchase lies in those products or services where the value of price comparison and relationship or personal preference holds equal weight. Categories such as advertising/marketing services, financial services, credit cards, vehicles and furniture will benefit most from growing Internet expertise of the small business customer and an effort from the suppliers to make these online transactions easier. Travel currently leads the small-business shopping categories with 71 percent penetration, followed by computer hardware and software and office supplies.
"Companies looking to grow online shopping for relationship-intensive products and services should consider targeting small businesses with tenure of less than two years," said David Schatsky, President of JupiterKagan. "These newer businesses show the greatest propensity to shop in such categories due to lack of already established relationships with the providers and a high level of comfort with Internet transactions."
The complete findings of this report are immediately available to JupiterResearch clients online at www.jupiterresearch.com. For additional information on this report or JupiterResearch's SMB Marketing research services, visit www.jupiterresearch.com or contact Kieran Kelly, Senior Vice President of Global Sales and Client Service, at 1-800-481-1212 or researchsales@jupitermedia.com.
About JupiterResearch
JupiterResearch provides unbiased research, analysis and advice, backed by proprietary data, to help companies profit from the impact of the Internet and emerging consumer technologies on their business. The company helps online businesses make critical decisions about technology selection, spending, staffing, and Web site effectiveness; advises consumer-facing companies with online advertising, marketing, and customer service strategies to understand, attract, convert and retain customers; and guides technology vendors and service providers on market opportunity, positioning, product definition, and pricing. JupiterResearch is headquartered in New York City and has offices throughout the US and Europe. For more information, visit www.jupiterresearch.com. JupiterResearch is a division of JupiterKagan, Inc.
About JupiterKagan, Inc.
JupiterKagan, Inc. was formed in 2006 from the merger of JupiterResearch and Kagan Research, two companies providing thought leadership, research and advice in the domain of the media and telecommunications, Internet, and emerging consumer technologies. The company's deliverables include continuous information services (available by subscription), research reports, data, inquiries with research analysts, appraisals, litigation support and consulting. JupiterKagan operates from six offices in the United States, United Kingdom, France and Germany. For more information, visit www.jupiterkagan.com.
Source: Business Wire
Related Articles
- Oce Business Services Ranked No. 2 Out of the Top 20 Document Process Outsourcing Vendors by The Black Book of Outsourcing
- Orange Business Services Connects 30 Carrefour Hypermarkets and Company Sites With Managed Adaptive Network in the Middle East
- Excel.Com Unveils New Category of Online Business Services Integrating Internet Marketing, Real-World Sales Tools for Business Acceleration
- Leading Independent Research Firm Assesses ASG's Business Service Management Platform
- E SOURCE Strengthens Mass Market and Small Business Services With New Director Douglas A. Karl
- PRIMUS Business Services Opens Newest Internet Data Centre in Vancouver
- Sify Targets Small & Medium Businesses for Application Services; Approaches Market With Customized Solutions for Fast Growing Verticals
- Research and Markets: AOL, Microsoft, EarthLink, Verizon, Comcast, and AT&T Are Among the Largest Internet Companies in The US
- Siemens Business Services and Stonesoft Announce Partnership in Scandinavia, Germany and Benelux; Partnership Aligns Both Companies for Future Growth in Demanding Market Segment
- More San Antonio Consumers Are Dialing Up Phone Service Over the Internet
 |
 |
User Comments (0)
RSS Feeds