ORANGE residents have headed online to purchase the bulk of this year’s Christmas presents, according to a poll conducted by the Central Western Daily.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Asked ‘where did/will you do most of your Christmas shopping this year?’ in a poll on the CWD’s Facebook page, more than 60 per cent of respondents selected ‘online’, with the remainder making most of their purchases at ‘shops in Orange’.
In a separate poll conducted at www.centralwesterndaily.com.au, one in 10 respondents said they had bought the majority of their presents at ‘other regional centres, like Bathurst, Dubbo and Wagga Wagga’.
Orange City Councillor Glenn Taylor previously said residents were starting to travel to Bathurst and Dubbo because they could not find what they needed in Orange.
No one can be blamed for shopping online given the lack of retail options in Orange these days.
- Aaron Pearson
“The problem that we face is people are going to specific outlets to purchase goods and they’re doing their other shopping whilst they’re there,” Cr Taylor said.
Reader Aaron Pearson identified a shortage of retail variety in the city as a reason shoppers may be looking elsewhere.
“No one can be blamed for shopping online given the lack of retail options in Orange these days,” Mr Pearson wrote.
In response to Cr Taylor’s concerns, Alyson Yager said “rent and parking are major issues” holding the city’s retail sector back.
POLL: Have your say …
“The lack of variety of shopping in Orange is hurting the small businesses that are here. If nothing is done it will continue to get worse,” she wrote.
The poll results come on the back of PayPal’s revelation that online shopping has become as popular a pastime as watching television for young people.
Two thirds of smartphone users “digitally window shop” for fun, with 77 per cent of them making impulse purchases, according to PayPal’s figures.
PayPal's findings are based on surveys of about 1000 smartphone users aged 18 and over, and of about 400 small to medium merchants with online stores.
Online retail sales increased about 28 per cent in August, year on year, according to ABS data, while research showed online clothing sales grew 57 per cent year on year and homewares by 55 per cent.
Retail experts low wages growth, rising petrol and energy costs, and falling house values are dampening spending.
“We are starting to see a shift in when Australian consumers spend in the critical Christmas quarter,” retail leader James Stewart said.
DO YOU WANT MORE ORANGE NEWS?
- Receive our free newsletters delivered to your inbox, as well as breaking news alerts. Sign up below …