The direct-to-consumer segment of e-commerce has stabilised further in the third quarter. Nominal sales grew by 1.5% to €17.3 billion, nearly compensating for declines earlier in the year. The total revenue for the first nine months of the year stands at €55.4 billion, now only 0.4% below last year's figures.
'The growth may be modest, but it indicates that the recovery trend in online retail is ongoing, and we have reached a point where sales are no longer declining,' says Martin Groß-Albenhausen, Deputy Managing Director of bevh.
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Revenue changes by quarter
'Long-term growth opportunities in e-commerce are resurging. Our business model has not faced structural issues; rather, we were affected by a challenging consumption climate. Despite the ongoing lack of economic tailwinds, online retail is once again driving performance and offering a wide selection, suggesting a promising holiday quarter,' comments Gero Furchheim, President of bevh.
Majority of product categories back in growth
In the 'Home' category, sales of home textiles and appliances rose by 2.0%.
Marketplace sales saw significant growth, with a 7.2% increase in Q3, accounting for 53.4% of e-commerce sales (€9.25 billion). In contrast, sales from pure online retailers dropped by 5.3%, and physical retailers' online shops saw a 6.1% decline. Direct-to-consumer (D2C) spending also rose by 6.6%.
Noteworthy trends
Two notable trends in the online market include the significant role of second-hand platforms, which account for nearly 10% of all orders, and the leading positions of prominent Asian providers across many categories. The total volume of online purchases through Asian platforms has surpassed €2.1 billion ahead of the holiday season.
More information:
Bevh
www.bevh.org