In a story released today by Reauters (link here) Nike is quoted as saying that their ecommerce online sales are increasing due to “cost-conscious shoppers conserving gasoline”. Nike is reporting a 9% increase in online sales. That is incredible. I personally think that this increase is relative to the gas price in 2008. With gas prices coming back down, but the economy continuing to struggle, does this mean that Nike will see an even bigger increase in 2009? Not sure. I would think that the economy would have a much greater impact on their brand that the gas prices. If I am a consumer, I want to save money, and Nike is not known for their shoes as being sold at a low price point. They are known for quality and comfort and as long as their consumers continue to buy for quality and comfort, they may see a rise online, as the consumer will still get what they want and love but for a little less gas.
How does this impact your company? You really need to think about your products and services and how the economy is impacting them. Can you utilize the web more than you already are? As a business owner or marketing manager who is responsible for your website, you really need to analyze how you can benefit from the changing habits of your consumers.
Tags: e-commerce, ecommerce, internet news, marketing, online sales