This dataset provides insights into eCommerce shopping preferences and trends among UK adults in 2024. The findings are derived from data collected from a sample of 2,017 UK adults regarding their shopping habits and influencing factors.Furthermore, hundreds of thousands online searches were analysed to collate the most up-to-date statistics.

Online shoppers in the U.S. and UK revealed that they will go somewhere else if their preferred retailer for consumer electronics does not have what they want, according to a 2022 survey. Additionally, another 62 percent of respondents reported that knowing when an electronics item is low-in-stock impacts their purchase decision.

The UK e-commerce market, valued at £280.55 million in 2025, is experiencing robust growth, projected to expand significantly over the forecast period (2025-2033). A compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.76% indicates a dynamic and rapidly evolving sector. This growth is fueled by several key factors. Increased internet and smartphone penetration across all demographics, coupled with the convenience and accessibility of online shopping, continues to drive adoption. Furthermore, the rise of omnichannel retail strategies, where businesses seamlessly integrate online and offline experiences, enhances customer engagement and boosts sales. Improved logistics and delivery infrastructure, including faster shipping options and increased same-day delivery services, also contribute to the market's expansion. The competitive landscape, with major players like Amazon, Currys PC World, and Tesco, alongside smaller businesses and specialized online retailers, fosters innovation and drives pricing competition, benefiting consumers. However, the market isn't without its challenges. Increasing competition necessitates continuous investment in technology and marketing to maintain market share. Concerns around data security and privacy, coupled with evolving consumer expectations regarding return policies and customer service, present ongoing operational hurdles. Economic fluctuations and potential shifts in consumer spending habits due to inflation or other macroeconomic factors could also impact growth trajectories. Despite these challenges, the long-term outlook for the UK e-commerce market remains positive, driven by ongoing technological advancements, evolving consumer preferences, and the persistent growth of online retail as a dominant force in the UK economy. The diverse range of products and services available online, from everyday essentials to specialized goods, fuels the market's broad appeal and contributes to its continued expansion. Recent developments include: July 2023 - Amazon has said that it invested more than 4.2 billion pounds (USD 5.4 billion) in the U.K. creative industries since 2010, spending that it claims has contributed some 4.8 billion pounds (USD 6.1 billion) of gross value. As part of its ongoing investment, the company has also announced support for more than 100 new apprenticeships in organizations.. Key drivers for this market are: Increase developments of 5G Technology, Increased Adoption of Online Payments. Potential restraints include: Privacy and security concerns. Notable trends are: The increasing ease of using alternative payment methods will propel the market.

During the fourth quarter of 2024, 3.1 percent of visits to e-commerce websites in the UK converted to purchases. In Switzerland, online shopper conversion rates stood at 2.9 percent. Mobile takes over e-shopping Online shopping has long since established itself as an everyday activity of online life – this holds for both desktop and mobile. As of the third quarter of 2024, more than three-quarters of retail site visits worldwide came from smartphones and generated about two-thirds of online shopping orders. Based on mobile retail performance growth, it is only a matter of time before mobile overtakes desktop in revenue generation.

The UK e-commerce market size reached USD 297.0 Billion in 2024. Looking forward, IMARC Group expects the market to reach USD 1,483.7 Billion by 2033, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 18.1% during ​2025-2033​. The growing online shopping activities among the masses, rising convenience-driven purchasing behaviors, competitive offerings from both established retailers and agile digital-native brands, and increasing user confidence in secure online transactions are some of the factors impelling the market growth.

The UK e-commerce market, a significant player in the global landscape, exhibits robust growth potential. With a 2025 market size estimated at £280.55 million (based on the provided global value and adjusting for the UK's share of the global market—a reasonable assumption considering the UK's advanced digital infrastructure and consumer behavior), the sector is projected to maintain a strong Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of approximately 21.76%. This growth is fueled by several key drivers. Increased internet penetration and smartphone usage continue to expand the addressable market, providing convenient access to online shopping for a broader demographic. The rising popularity of online marketplaces like Amazon and eBay, coupled with the aggressive expansion of omnichannel strategies by traditional retailers, fosters competition and innovation, ultimately benefiting consumers with greater choice and value. Furthermore, evolving consumer preferences towards convenience, personalized experiences, and seamless delivery options further fuel this expansion. However, challenges remain. While the market enjoys high growth, potential restraints include concerns surrounding data privacy and security, increasing competition, and the fluctuating economic climate. Specifically, the segments driving growth include fashion and apparel, beauty and personal care, and consumer electronics. These sectors benefit from strong online presence, visual merchandising opportunities, and the ability to target specific demographics effectively. The B2B e-commerce sector is also anticipated to experience considerable growth, fueled by the increasing adoption of digital procurement solutions by businesses. Key players like Amazon, eBay, Asos, and others are aggressively vying for market share, utilizing advanced technologies and strategic partnerships to consolidate their positions and capture opportunities within the diverse segments of the UK e-commerce landscape. Geographical distribution within the UK itself displays strong regional variations, with London and other major urban centers exhibiting higher penetration rates compared to rural areas. This necessitates tailored strategies and targeted investment for sustained market expansion. Recent developments include: May 2024 - Metapack, a prominent player in e-commerce delivery technology, announced that Mountain Warehouse, a significant outdoor clothing company in the United Kingdom, extended its partnership with Metapack to enhance its delivery capabilities and support its growth strategy. Already utilizing Metapack Delivery Manager, Mountain Warehouse incorporated Metapack’s Delivery Options and Metapack Intelligence solutions into its operations. This investment in shipping infrastructure aims to deliver superior e-commerce experiences to customers across the United Kingdom and Canada., March 2024 - Kin + Carta, a global player in digital transformation consulting, introduced an advanced generative AI and large language model (LLM) tool for the UK retailer Matalan. This innovative tool enables Matalan to efficiently generate comprehensive product descriptions for new items as they are added to its online inventory.. Key drivers for this market are: Increase Developments of 5G Technology, Increased Adoption of Online Payments. Potential restraints include: Increase Developments of 5G Technology, Increased Adoption of Online Payments. Notable trends are: Innovations in 5G Technology is Driving the Market Growth.

This dataset contains transaction records from an online retail store between December 2009 and December 2011. The transactions are primarily from customers in the United Kingdom and other European countries. The company mainly sells unique all-occasion gift-ware. Many customers of the company are wholesalers.

What does the online shopper want? The answer for UK consumers was price comparisons, according to results of a consumer survey conducted each year from 2018 to 2020. In each of these years, those surveyed predominantly cited price comparison and greater variety as the two leading motivations to do their shopping online.

Most popular items purchased online

The latest reports published by the Office for National Statistics (UK) also suggested that, for both British men and women alike, clothing and sports goods were the number one items that shoppers purchased online in 2020. Ranking second that year, deliveries from restaurants, fast-food chains or catering services were ordered by approximately a third of consumers in Great Britain.

UK: Europe’s leading e-commerce market

UK’s online shoppers drive the sovereign country’s retail sector. Currently, the share of online sales as a proportion to all retail trade makes the United Kingdom the leading e-commerce market in Europe. Forecasts indicate that the total value of online sales in the UK will have reached approximately billion British pounds in 2020.

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Context

E-commerce has become a new channel to support businesses development. Through e-commerce, businesses can get access and establish a wider market presence by providing cheaper and more efficient distribution channels for their products or services. E-commerce has also changed the way people shop and consume products and services. Many people are turning to their computers or smart devices to order goods, which can easily be delivered to their homes.

Content

This is a sales transaction data set of UK-based e-commerce (online retail) for one year. This London-based shop has been selling gifts and homewares for adults and children through the website since 2007. Their customers come from all over the world and usually make direct purchases for themselves. There are also small businesses that buy in bulk and sell to other customers through retail outlet channels.

The data set contains 500K rows and 8 columns. The following is the description of each column. 1. TransactionNo (categorical): a six-digit unique number that defines each transaction. The letter “C” in the code indicates a cancellation. 2. Date (numeric): the date when each transaction was generated. 3. ProductNo (categorical): a five or six-digit unique character used to identify a specific product. 4. Product (categorical): product/item name. 5. Price (numeric): the price of each product per unit in pound sterling (£). 6. Quantity (numeric): the quantity of each product per transaction. Negative values related to cancelled transactions. 7. CustomerNo (categorical): a five-digit unique number that defines each customer. 8. Country (categorical): name of the country where the customer resides.

There is a small percentage of order cancellation in the data set. Most of these cancellations were due to out-of-stock conditions on some products. Under this situation, customers tend to cancel an order as they want all products delivered all at once.

Inspiration

Information is a main asset of businesses nowadays. The success of a business in a competitive environment depends on its ability to acquire, store, and utilize information. Data is one of the main sources of information. Therefore, data analysis is an important activity for acquiring new and useful information. Analyze this dataset and try to answer the following questions. 1. How was the sales trend over the months? 2. What are the most frequently purchased products? 3. How many products does the customer purchase in each transaction? 4. What are the most profitable segment customers? 5. Based on your findings, what strategy could you recommend to the business to gain more profit?

Photo by CardMapr on Unsplash

Online Retail Transaction Data

UK Online Retail Sales and Customer Transaction Data

By UCI [source]

About this dataset

Comprehensive Dataset on Online Retail Sales and Customer Data

Welcome to this comprehensive dataset offering a wide array of information related to online retail sales. This data set provides an in-depth look at transactions, product details, and customer information documented by an online retail company based in the UK. The scope of the data spans vastly, from granular details about each product sold to extensive customer data sets from different countries.

This transnational data set is a treasure trove of vital business insights as it meticulously catalogues all the transactions that happened during its span. It houses rich transactional records curated by a renowned non-store online retail company based in the UK known for selling unique all-occasion gifts. A considerable portion of its clientele includes wholesalers; ergo, this dataset can prove instrumental for companies looking for patterns or studying purchasing trends among such businesses.

The available attributes within this dataset offer valuable pieces of information:

• InvoiceNo: This attribute refers to invoice numbers that are six-digit integral numbers uniquely assigned to every transaction logged in this system. Transactions marked with 'c' at the beginning signify cancellations - adding yet another dimension for purchase pattern analysis.

• StockCode: Stock Code corresponds with specific items as they're represented within the inventory system via 5-digit integral numbers; these allow easy identification and distinction between products.

• Description: This refers to product names, giving users qualitative knowledge about what kind of items are being bought and sold frequently.

• Quantity: These figures ascertain the volume of each product per transaction – important figures that can help understand buying trends better.

• InvoiceDate: Invoice Dates detail when each transaction was generated down to precise timestamps – invaluable when conducting time-based trend analysis or segmentation studies.

• UnitPrice: Unit prices represent how much each unit retails at — crucial for revenue calculations or cost-related analyses.

Finally,

• Country: This locational attribute shows where each customer hails from, adding geographical segmentation to your data investigation toolkit.

This dataset was originally collated by Dr Daqing Chen, Director of the Public Analytics group based at the School of Engineering, London South Bank University. His research studies and business cases with this dataset have been published in various papers contributing to establishing a solid theoretical basis for direct, data and digital marketing strategies.

Access to such records can ensure enriching explorations or formulating insightful hypotheses about consumer behavior patterns among wholesalers. Whether it's managing inventory or studying transactional trends over time or spotting cancellation patterns - this dataset is apt for multiple forms of retail analysis

How to use the dataset

1. Sales Analysis:

Sales data forms the backbone of this dataset, and it allows users to delve into various aspects of sales performance. You can use the Quantity and UnitPrice fields to calculate metrics like revenue, and further combine it with InvoiceNo information to understand sales over individual transactions.

2. Product Analysis:

Each product in this dataset comes with its unique identifier (StockCode) and its name (Description). You could analyse which products are most popular based on Quantity sold or look at popularity per transaction by considering both Quantity and InvoiceNo.

3. Customer Segmentation:

If you associated specific business logic onto the transactions (such as calculating total amounts), then you could use standard machine learning methods or even RFM (Recency, Frequency, Monetary) segmentation techniques combining it with 'CustomerID' for your customer base to understand customer behavior better. Concatenating invoice numbers (which stand for separate transactions) per client will give insights about your clients as well.

4. Geographical Analysis:

The Country column enables analysts to study purchase patterns across different geographical locations.

Practical applications

Understand what products sell best where - It can help drive tailored marketing strategies. Anomalies detection – Identify unusual behaviors that might lead frau...

Consumer Edge is a leader in alternative consumer data for public and private investors and corporate clients. CE Vision Europe includes consumer transaction data on 6.7M+ credit cards, debit cards, direct debit accounts, and direct transfer accounts, including 5.3M+ active monthly users. Capturing online, offline, and 3rd-party consumer spending on public and private companies, data covers 5K+ merchants, 3K+ brands mapped to 600 global parent companies (500 publicly traded), and deep geographic breakouts with demographic breakouts coming soon for UK. Brick & mortar and ecommerce direct-to-consumer sales are recorded on transaction date and purchase data is available for most companies as early as 5 days post-swipe.

Consumer Edge’s consumer transaction datasets offer insights into industries across consumer and discretionary spend such as: • Apparel, Accessories, & Footwear • Automotive • Beauty • Commercial – Hardlines • Convenience / Drug / Diet • Department Stores • Discount / Club • Education • Electronics / Software • Financial Services • Full-Service Restaurants • Grocery • Ground Transportation • Health Products & Services • Home & Garden • Insurance • Leisure & Recreation • Limited-Service Restaurants • Luxury • Miscellaneous Services • Online Retail – Broadlines • Other Specialty Retail • Pet Products & Services • Sporting Goods, Hobby, Toy & Game • Telecom & Media • Travel

Private equity and venture capital firms can leverage insights from CE’s synthetic data to assess investment opportunities, while consumer insights teams and retailers can gain visibility into transaction data’s potential for competitive analysis, shopper behavior, and market intelligence.

CE Vision Benefits • Discover new competitors • Compare sales, average ticket & transactions across competition • Evaluate demographic and geographic drivers of growth • Assess customer loyalty • Explore granularity by geos • Benchmark market share vs. competition • Analyze business performance with advanced cross-cut queries

Corporate researchers and consumer insights teams use CE Vision for:

Corporate Strategy Use Cases • Ecommerce vs. brick & mortar trends • Real estate opportunities • Economic spending shifts

Marketing & Consumer Insights • Total addressable market view • Competitive threats & opportunities • Cross-shopping trends for new partnerships • Demo and geo growth drivers • Customer loyalty & retention

Investor Relations • Shareholder perspective on brand vs. competition • Real-time market intelligence • M&A opportunities

Most popular use cases for private equity and venture capital firms include: • Deal Sourcing • Live Diligences • Portfolio Monitoring

The size of the UK E-Commerce Industry market was valued at USD XXX Million in 2023 and is projected to reach USD XXX Million by 2032, with an expected CAGR of 21.76% during the forecast period.E-commerce stands for electronic commerce. This is the buying and selling of products and services online. It includes various things, such as shopping and online marketplaces, online banking, and digital ticketing.There has been active growth of e-commerce in the UK, with most retail sales taking place online. This is now more convenient and accessible to consumers than other means of shopping since they are able to access and make purchases from their homes. It is on such bases that e-commerce websites have gained the forefront in fuelling growth within the overall industry. Local and international retailers also diversify through products and services.This has managed to see the e-commerce sector in the UK stronger as it provides a better trust to consumers who will want to use internet-based transactions as well as more internet penetration in the population at large.Actually, further innovations within the areas of mobile commerce, augmented reality shopping, and artificial intelligence-enabled personalized recommendations will push e-commerce to newer heights in the UK with further technological advancement. Recent developments include: July 2023 - Amazon has said that it invested more than 4.2 billion pounds (USD 5.4 billion) in the U.K. creative industries since 2010, spending that it claims has contributed some 4.8 billion pounds (USD 6.1 billion) of gross value. As part of its ongoing investment, the company has also announced support for more than 100 new apprenticeships in organizations.. Key drivers for this market are: Increase developments of 5G Technology, Increased Adoption of Online Payments. Potential restraints include: Privacy and security concerns. Notable trends are: The increasing ease of using alternative payment methods will propel the market.

Over the past pandemic year, a significant number of consumers in the United Kingdom (UK) have reported changes in their online shopping behavior. Specifically, in March 2020, about 40 percent of UK shoppers said they had been shopping more online, compared to before the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. By February 2021, however, this percentage had grown to approximately 75 percent. By the same token, offline shopping has decreased over the analyzed period.

In 2024, global retail e-commerce sales reached an estimated six trillion U.S. dollars. Projections indicate a 31 percent growth in this figure over the coming years, with expectations to come close to eight trillion dollars by 2028. World players Among the key players on the world stage, the American marketplace giant Amazon holds the title of the largest e-commerce player globally, with a gross merchandise value of nearly 800 billion U.S. dollars in 2024. Amazon was also the most valuable retail brand globally, followed by mostly American competitors such as Walmart and the Home Depot. Leading e-tailing regions E-commerce is a dormant channel globally, but nowhere has it been as successful as in Asia. In 2024, the e-commerce revenue in that continent alone was measured at nearly two trillion U.S. dollars, outperforming the Americas and Europe. That year, the up-and-coming e-commerce markets also centered around Asia. The Philippines and India stood out as the swiftest-growing e-commerce markets based on online sales, anticipating a growth rate surpassing 20 percent.

In March 2025, monthly internet retail sales increased by 5.4 percent in Great Britain, compared to the same month of the previous year.

Snapshot img

E-Commerce Retail Market Size 2024-2028

The e-commerce retail market size is forecast to increase by USD 4061.3 billion at a CAGR of 11.2% between 2023 and 2028.

The market is experiencing growth, driven by the advent of personalized shopping experiences and the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies. Consumers increasingly demand customized offerings, leading retailers to invest heavily in AI-powered solutions for product recommendations, inventory management, and customer service. However, this market is not without challenges. Strict regulatory policies related to compliance and customer protection continue to pose significant hurdles for retailers. Compliance with data privacy regulations, such as GDPR and CCPA, and ensuring secure payment gateways are essential for maintaining customer trust and avoiding hefty fines. Companies seeking to capitalize on this market's opportunities must prioritize investments in AI and personalization while navigating the complex regulatory landscape. Effective implementation of these strategies will enable retailers to differentiate themselves from competitors and thrive in the evolving the market.

What will be the Size of the E-Commerce Retail Market during the forecast period?

Request Free SampleThe market in the United States continues to experience growth, driven by increasing internet penetration and the convenience of online shopping. According to recent studies, retail e-commerce sales are projected to reach record levels, surpassing USD800 billion by 2025. This growth is fueled by several factors, including the proliferation of digital payment methods, such as mobile wallets and buy now, pay later options, and the integration of payment systems into e-commerce platforms for seamless transaction processing. Moreover, the market is witnessing a shift towards business-to-business (B2B) and cross-border e-commerce, as well as the adoption of advanced technologies like augmented reality and voice orders to enhance the shopping experience. The market is also witnessing a rise in direct selling through social media and marketplaces, with daily essentials, computer devices, and luxury items being popular categories. Inventory management and data security remain critical concerns for e-commerce retailers, with responsive websites and mobile applications becoming essential for reaching a wider customer base. The use of smartphones and tablet devices for online shopping continues to grow, making mobile technologies a significant trend in the market.

How is this E-Commerce Retail Industry segmented?

The e-commerce retail industry research report provides comprehensive data (region-wise segment analysis), with forecasts and estimates in 'USD billion' for the period 2024-2028, as well as historical data from 2018-2022 for the following segments. ProductApparel and accessoriesGroceriesFootwearPersonal and beauty careOthersModalityBusiness to business (B2B)Business to consumer (B2C)Consumer to consumer (C2C)GeographyAPACChinaIndiaJapanSouth KoreaNorth AmericaUSCanadaEuropeFranceGermanyItalyUKSouth AmericaMiddle East and Africa

By Product Insights

The apparel and accessories segment is estimated to witness significant growth during the forecast period.The market for apparel and accessories is experiencing significant growth, driven by several key factors. Increasing financial institutions' support for online platforms, the trend toward business-to-business (B2B) and consumer-to-consumer (C2C) transactions, and the shift toward organized retail are major contributors to this expansion. The market for apparels and accessories, including footwear, is projected to reach substantial growth, especially in emerging markets. For instance, in India, the domestic lifestyle industry, which includes apparel, beauty, accessories, and footwear, is expected to reach USD210 billion by 2028. A significant driver of this growth is the Gen Z demographic, which is heavily influenced by social media trends and prefers the convenience of online shopping. This generation's preference for the latest fashion trends and willingness to spend on premium products makes them a crucial segment for e-commerce retailers. However, the market also faces challenges such as digital fraud and cybercrime, requiring digital infrastructure and cybersecurity measures. E-commerce platforms are incorporating security features, such as AI technologies, digital wallets, and payment integration, to ensure a safe and personalized shopping experience for consumers. The market is also witnessing the adoption of headless e-commerce, responsive websites, voice orders, and mobile applications to cater to the increasing use of tablet devices and smartphone devices for online shopping. Additionally, the market is seeing the emergence of cross-border e-commerce, daily essentials, and luxury items, requiring advanced inventory management

The pie chart showcases the distribution of app/software spending by store category in United Kingdom, providing insights into how eCommerce stores allocate their resources on the app or software they utilize. Among the store categories, Apparel exhibits the highest spending, with a total expenditure of $63.78M units representing 23.84% of the overall spending. Following closely behind is Beauty & Fitness with a spend of $40.59M units, comprising 15.17% of the total. Home & Garden also contributes significantly with a spend of $32.15M units, accounting for 12.02% of the overall app/software spending. This data sheds light on the investment patterns of eCommerce stores within each category, reflecting their priorities and resource allocation towards app or software solutions.

"Online Shopping Trends – Coronavirus (COVID-19) Consumer Survey Insights – Weeks 1-10" analyses how consumer behavior online has changed over a period of 10 weeks during the pandemic. The report identifies how income groups, national markets, and categories, have fared during this unprecedented public health crisis. Read More

ZARA UK Fashion Dataset offers an extensive collection of fashion product data from ZARA's UK online store, providing a detailed overview of available items. This dataset is valuable for analyzing the European fashion retail market, particularly in the UK, and includes fields such as product titles, URLs, SKUs, MPNs, brands, prices, currency, images, breadcrumbs, country, availability, unique IDs, and timestamps for when the data was scraped.

Key Features:

• Product Details: Includes title, URL, SKU (Stock Keeping Unit), MPN (Manufacturer Part Number), and brand for each product, helping to uniquely identify and differentiate items.
• Pricing Information: Features the price of each product along with the currency used (GBP) to understand the pricing strategies of ZARA in the UK market.
• Visual Data: High-quality images of each product, essential for visual merchandising analysis and online consumer behavior studies.
• Categorical Information: Breadcrumbs data provide context on the product's placement within ZARA's website structure, helping to analyze navigation and product hierarchy.
• Geographical Focus: Specific to the UK market, making it relevant for studies on British fashion retail and consumer trends.
• Availability Status: Includes real-time availability data, which is crucial for understanding stock levels, popular products, and restocking practices.
• Unique Identifiers: Each product is tagged with a uniq_id, ensuring data integrity and making it easier to track and analyze over time.
• Data Collection Timestamp: The scraped_at field records the exact time and date when the data was collected, aiding in time-based analysis of inventory and pricing.

Potential Use Cases:

• Market Research: Analyze UK and European fashion trends, consumer preferences, and competitive positioning within the fast fashion sector.
• E-commerce Analysis: Study ZARA's product placement, pricing, and availability to optimize online retail strategies.
• Stock Management: Use SKU and availability data to predict inventory needs and enhance supply chain efficiency.
• Brand Analysis: Examine the impact of brand identity on consumer choices and product performance in the UK market.
• Academic Research: Ideal for research projects focused on fashion retail, marketing strategies, and consumer behavior in Europe.

Data Sources:

The data is meticulously collected from ZARA's official UK website and other reliable retail databases, reflecting the latest product offerings and market dynamics specific to the UK and European fashion markets.

• ZARA US Retail Products Dataset: Explore over 10,000 product records from ZARA's USA online store, including titles, prices, images, and availability.
  
  
• Fashion Products Dataset from GAP.com: Access detailed product information from GAP's online store, featuring over 4,500 fashion items with attributes like price, brand, color, reviews, and images.
  
  
• Myntra Fashion Products Dataset: A comprehensive dataset from Myntra.com, offering over 12,000 fashion products with detailed attributes for in-depth analysis.