Online sales in Brazil during the Christmas season, comprising purchases made between November 15 and December 24, are forecast to expand 22% over last year, according to local e-commerce consultancy E-bit.
The estimated growth compares to 41% in 2013. That expansion, however, exceeded E-bit forecasts of 25% growth.
This year, Christmas is expected to generate 5.2bn reais (US$2.08bn) for online retailers, compared to 4.3bn reais in 2013. Some 14.5mn purchases are forecast to be made at an average value of 360 reais – compared to 300 reais last year.
“Despite the current overall low confidence in the economy, e-commerce always grows stronger than other sectors,” E-bit director Pedro Guasti said. The reasons for that, he said, are a greater facility to compare prices, more information on products and special promotions.
As in 2013, Guasti projects this week’s Black Friday event should encourage some customers to advance Christmas purchases. E-bit projects 1.2bn reais in sales during this year’s Black Friday – 56% annual growth.
Top selling products during Christmas are expected to be tablets, laptops, smartphones, TVs, electronics and household appliances, among others.
E-bit predicts e-commerce will post 34.6bn reais in revenues for the full year, up 20% from 2013.
Source: www.bnamericas.com
