Only 17 per cent of e-commerce sites used by Kiwis are domestic, with Australia and the US each making up 20 per cent of sites used, according to Rakuten’s APAC e-commerce report.
Over half (56 per cent) of New Zealand shoppers believe international brands offer a better product selection, while half think they represent better value.
Price is the most critical criteria for choosing which e-commerce site to use with 88 per cent citing it as the driving factor, while 63 per cent said it was the variety of products.
Delivery times are also important, with 60 per cent of respondents saying timely delivery, with updates, is the most important criteria in choosing a store.
Social media advertising was found to be a strong converter for Kiwi’s, with 79 per cent of respondents noting an ad on a social media platform led them to make a purchase.
Just over one in four Kiwis (26 per cent) follow local brands on Facebook, while 22 per cent follow international brands.
New Zealand shoppers are primarily searching for women’s fashion, travel and services, media and games and electronic accessories when they purchase international products.
Additionally, while Australia and New Zealand have the highest offline shopping trends in the region, e-commerce growth is on the rise in both countries.
