Shoppers Shifting to Using Mobile Exclusively for Retail. [REPORT]

With more than 1 out of 3 mobile retail shoppers exclusively tapping their device to research purchases, mobile is becoming a de facto retail shopping tool according to new retail insights released from xAd. In addition, one-third of consumer’s online shopping time is now spent on smartphones and tablets. The ongoing xAd/Telmetrics U.S. Mobile Path-to-Purchase Study conducted by Nielsen also revealed that showrooming is not prevalent, with 77 percent of smartphone retail shoppers ultimately making their purchases in-store versus going online to try and find a cheaper price.

“Showing the power of mobile, consumers are beginning to use their mobile devices exclusively for their retail shopping and research needs,” said Monica Ho, vice president of marketing, xAd. “As a result, both online and brick and mortar retailers must understand how to integrate this fast growing media into their overall marketing spend with the right message, at the right time to the right customer.”

Most Mobile Retail Searchers Convert; Many Within the Hour

More than half (55 percent) of mobile retail shoppers ultimately make a purchase, and immediacy is important with over 30 percent of smartphone users and 25 percent of tablet users intending to make a purchase within an hour. Tablet shoppers, however, generally have longer purchase cycles with deeper research intent as 41 percent take a month or longer to make a purchase.

Mobile Showrooming Overhyped

As only 6 percent of smartphone users conducted their most recent mobile retail search in-store and 77 percent complete their purchases in-store, the findings indicate the premise of mobile showrooming is overstated for the overall retail category. Select categories of shoppers slightly over-index on their in-store mobile retail research including Electronics (7.1%), Groceries (6.7%) and Home Goods (6.6%) while only 4.7 percent of Apparel, Drug and Beauty Goods shoppers search their devices in-store. Mobile shoppers are in fact using their devices for comparison-shopping before and after an in-store visit with 50 percent of mobile users beginning their retail shopping on mobile and 1 out of 4 mobile shoppers leveraging their device throughout the purchase process.

Location Paramount for Smartphone Shoppers While Tablet Shoppers Search for Promotions

Smartphone and tablet shoppers exhibit different research intent with smartphone users considering location most important while coupons/offers (21 percent) and reviews (18 percent) are top of mind for tablet users. The research also indicates:

The majority of smartphone users expect retailers to be within five miles of their location (57 percent);

1 out of 4 smartphone users consider proximity of the retail business location the most important factor when looking for information via mobile device; and

Contact information is a critical need for smartphone users with more than 1 out of 3 shoppers looking specifically for retailer details such as a phone number.

“Our retail findings confirm that shoppers are demanding locally relevant business information when making a retail purchase decision,” said Bill Dinan, president of Telmetrics. “With more mobile shoppers using mobile exclusively and throughout their online shopping experience, marketers must ensure campaigns include local info and timely promotions to help convert the nearly 60 percent of consumers that are undecided.”

To download report CLICK onn link below;
http://www.mobilepathtopurchase.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/xAd_Mobile-Path-to-Purchase_Retail_FINAL.pdf>