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‘41% of travel retailers missing out on online business’
Cost and a lack of technical knowledge are preventing travel agents from getting online, new research shows.
The poll found that 41% of travel retailers questioned do not currently trade online and risk missing out on lucrative New Year sales as millions of shoppers shun the high street to shop online for 2007 summer holidays.
The research by Barclaycard Business found that a third (33%) cited the cost of setting up online as a barrier to implementation and one in five (21%) felt they did not have the technical know-how needed to set up an online service for customers.
Of those travel retailers who were able to accept business over the internet, two-thirds (66%) had seen an increase in their business over the last 12 months.
The research comes from the first Barclaycard Business Retail in Detail Survey; an annual poll of more than 1,000 retailers across the country. The aim is to build a comprehensive picture of the nation’s high street and to gauge the views of retail owners in the UK today.
The company’s commercial director for acquiring Bill Thomson said: “The growth of online shopping over the last five years has opened up a lucrative new revenue stream for UK travel retailers. However, it is clear from our research that many retailers are not yet benefiting from this new income by making their goods and services available online.
“Our research shows that many travel retailers perceive setting up online as a costly exercise. In fact the opposite is true. Starting to trade online can be extremely quick and cost effective; a move that can deliver new business which will quickly repay any initial costs.”
He added: “Just because a retailer has been operating for a number of years does not mean that they should be deterred from starting up online.
“If a company has built up a strong reputation amongst its client base over many years, adding a new way to market its products and services can attract new customers, grow the retailer’s income and ultimately grow its business.”
Report by Phil Davies
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