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The "meteoric rise" of online shopping
Page 54
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Many sectors show growth and a 10% increase in any given market would be deemed substantial. But the figures surrounding UK online shopping are mind-boggling. In six years it has grown by 2,000%, says the Interactive Media in Retail Group (IMRG).
IMRG's chief executive James Roper acknowledges in a report that such a meteoric rise beggars belief. Nonetheless, it is true, he says. "It is understandable that IMRG's reporting of the rampant growth of online shopping should attract accusations of exaggeration from some quarters... those who closely study the online shopping sector understand why its spectacular progress is inevitable, not surprising."
This April alone, £2.6bn of shopping was bought online, says the I MRG. And, of course, every single sold item must travel in a van or truck.