Online orders skyrocket during $30bn November

Dean Blake

22nd Dec 2020

Total monthly retail sales jumped 7 per cent in November, while comparing the month to the same time last year saw turnover grow 13.2 per cent, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

In total, the month brought in $31.6 billion in turnover, up $2 billion on October’s figures.

And, one of the country’s biggest fulfilment firms eStore Logistics said November was a record month of online sales, with Aussies around the country making 46 per cent more orders online compared to the year prior.

“While Black Friday was a big factor in making November our biggest ever month on record, you only have to look at the consistent year-on-year order growth in New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia, which have been out of lockdown since August, to see that shoppers aren’t going to stop buying things online,” said eStore managing director Leigh Williams.

According to the business, shoppers in South Australia made 57 per cent more online orders this year in November. NSW customers bought 55 per cent more, with ACT up 48 per cent and Queensland 47 per cent.

And, as has been the case for much of 2020, homewares and renovation retailers led the way with 138 per cent more business in November, while departments stores saw 92 per cent more orders.

“Before COVID-19, Australian ecommerce was growing at 20 percent year-on-year, but the introduction of lockdown restrictions really poured on rocket fuel,” said Williams.

“During this time, millions of new customers were introduced to the benefits of ecommerce and while it’s natural that some of those have returned to visiting their favourite stores, it’s clear that online retail is not going away.”