Press Release

Amazon first stop for apparel, with brand websites making a play for younger shoppers

The 2019 U.S. Forecast on Apparel Shopping Trends

New research from CPC Strategy – now part of Elite SEM – reveals that more people are buying clothes online, with 63% of Gen Z and 57% of Millennials shopping on Amazon — far more than any other website.

San Diego, CA — February 13, 2019 — The retail outlook for the year ahead is bright, with the National Retail Federation predicting growth of up to 4.4% for a total of more than $3.3 trillion in sales. For apparel brands, all eyes are on Amazon. With its two-day shipping, easy checkout and returns, and enormous catalog of brands — the ecommerce giant has undeniably rewritten the playbook for retail. So how can apparel brands win their share of sales?

To better understand the evolving consumer behaviors that are driving growth for apparel sales, CPC Strategy, a retail-focused digital marketing agency acquired by Elite SEM in September 2018, surveyed 2,000 consumers about their shopping habits. The 2019 U.S. Forecast on Apparel Shopping Trends uncovered some surprising trends that should inform every retail brand’s advertising strategy – including a breakdown of how different age groups shop, how shoppers will browse and buy across devices, and what features influence their purchase decisions.

“Our study shows that 63% of Gen Z and 57% of Millennial shoppers are already purchasing apparel from Amazon, with Gen Z also showing a strong affinity for buying clothing directly from brand websites,” said Nii Ahene, COO and cofounder of CPC Strategy. “Although Amazon may be the apparel website of choice for younger shoppers, most age groups are browsing and buying clothing across multiple shopping channels, which speaks to the need for brands and retailers to invest in a strategic multi-channel strategy to engage with apparel shoppers across multiple touchpoints.”

Shopping channels do matter when it comes to apparel, especially when looking at different age groups. With a collective purchasing power of more than $200 billion as measured by Millennial Marketing and Nielsen, Generation Z and Millennials will drive ecommerce apparel growth, and cite features like free and fast shipping, low prices, and convenience as the most important features when buying apparel online.

Commissioned by CPC Strategy and conducted by Survata, the survey asked 2,000 online respondents ages 18-65 a series of questions, including how often they shop for clothes online, what items they’ve purchased in the past six months, which devices they prefer to use, and what category they’re most likely to consider for off-brand/generic apparel.

Other key findings of the report:

What can brands learn from this research? To succeed in 2019, brands must build visibility across multiple channels. That could mean improving the functionality and features of an ecommerce website on desktop and mobile, investing in premium content if that brand is selling on Amazon, and implementing a paid media strategy to scale traffic to each.

About CPC Strategy

CPC Strategy is a retail-focused digital marketing agency that specializes in driving performance growth on the channels that directly impact a retailer’s digital bottom line. Founded in 2007 and acquired by Elite SEM in 2018, CPC executes on ad strategy and management for retailers and brands on Google, Amazon, Facebook, and other product advertising channels. CPC Strategy ranked #1,288 in the Inc. 5000 List of America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies™ and was also honored as a finalist in “Best Places to Work” by the San Diego Business Journal. For more information visit https://tinuiti.com/.

Contact:
Megan Leer
CPC Strategy, now part of Elite SEM
[email protected]
619.708.9500

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