Online Sales Remain Strong In Japan Despite Recession

September 08, 2009
By the ZippyCart Shopping Carts Content Team

While brick and mortar retail sales may be struggling in Japan due to the economic recession, online sales are increasing as more people stay home to shop. Not only do online shoppers in Japan get to save money by getting the best deal online, they also save by not spending on transportation or eating out while shopping. There is even a term for at home shoppers called sugomori which when translated means “chicks in the nest” because these couples almost always stay home. Japan also has amazing penetration when it comes to high speed Internet and their mobile phones have long been equipped to hop online for shopping. The Nikkei daily in Japan estimates that online shopping sales in Japan rose 22% to $67.2 billion despite the deepest recession for the country since the postwar era.

Workers in Japan are often plagued by long commutes on public transportation so they have a lot of time to catch up on the news and possibly shop while on their mobile phones. Major Internet retailers in Japan are also getting much better about marketing toward mobile savvy shoppers which has helped fuel the rise in online sales. One of the most appealing factors for online shoppers in Japan has been the superior delivery speed with many consumers getting their goods early the next morning as long as ordered by midnight of the previous. While the United States still generates much more in total online sales, we have a lot to learn from Japan to improve our online retail industry.