19 January 2006

Improved websites are set to drive growth in the retail sector, according to a new report.

The growing e-commerce market will help maintain reasonable growth in retail, despite some signs that overall consumer spending will be dampened in 2006, reveals research from the US retail consulting firm, McEvoy & Associates.

In a year predicted to be "good, but not great", the web-based retail world is set to buck the economic forecasts with a number of companies improving and profiting from their increased online presence.

The US-based consultancy firm sees factors such as rising interest rates, high oil prices as well as political tensions in the American government as detrimental to economic growth in the US and in turn the rest of the world's economy.

However, along with e-tailers, the company also predicts growing prosperity for companies making the most out of increasing consumer interest in healthy, organic and speciality foods during the forthcoming year.

There are also signs that tapping into the male consumer market could pay dividends, with men showing an increasing level of interest in maintaining their looks and entertaining friends in their homes.

The research reported that a US kitchenware store saw an unusually high number of male shoppers during Christmas 2005.

© Adfero Ltd

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