Home shopping optimistic about trading

Three quarters of mail order and e-commerce companies believe their prospects are better or the same as in the same season last year, according to research carried out by Abacus among 48 key members. Its Business Barometer online survey shows that one third are experiencing better trading and 40 per cent the same conditions. Only 27 per cent reported a downturn in business. A similar proportion also reported a pessmistic outlook for prospects.

Nearly half of the sample (48 per cent) were optimistic about trading during Q3 of 2009. However, the survey also asked respondents whether their sector had yet felt the full brunt of the economic downturn or the worst of the recession. The majority (53 per cent) said that they predicted the worst was yet to come.

Matthew Pepper, UK sales director at Abacus, says/ “The results provide a fascinating insight into the UK home shopping sector. While there is a lot of talk of doom and gloom in many market sectors, there would also appear to be a lot of optimism, particularly amongst our members. The global recession may still be battering our economy, but the mail order sector appears to be weathering the storm.”