A record number of Australian shoppers are expected to head online this year to do their Christmas shopping, a new nationwide survey commissioned by Australia Post has revealed.
The research highlights 87% of Australians will be turning to online shopping to buy one or more of their presents this year, compared to only 52% last year. On average each consumer buys about 10 Christmas presents and spends about $364 in total, according to the survey.
The biggest catalysts driving people online are: shopping online at a time that suits them (63%), having gifts delivered to the door (53%), avoiding busy car parks and big crowds (52%) and easily comparing prices at the touch of a button (50%).
Australia Post expects that Christmas 2015 will be one of the busiest years for parcel deliveries, anticipating a record 1.3 million parcels a day powered by online shopping.
Christine Corbett, Executive General Manager, Postal and eCommerce Services at Australia Post, said: "Christmas is our favourite time of year at Australia Post. We know our customers love online shopping, where they can shop at a time that suits them, from the comfort of their own home.
"We want to help make Christmas simpler so we're gearing up our services with extended Post Office opening hours and weekend parcel deliveries. To keep gifts a secret and avoid a Santa spoiler, people can have them delivered to one of over 240 of our free 24/7 Parcel Locker locations or directly to a parcel collect point near work or home."
