Online retailing to hit 20% by 2018

Online retailing will comprise 20% of the non-food market in Australia in five years, retail expert Stephen Kulmar predicts. Speaking at ConTech 2013, the Australasian confectionery conference, Kulmar warned that the Australian retail market should be prepared for a major shake-up.

“Australian consumers have literally invited online retailing into their home and have been heavy early adopters,” Kulmar said. “It will have a major impact on retailers who will see what we currently have as a tip of the iceberg and they will need to react to it.

Kulmar anticipates that we will see many more international retailers opening stores in Australia in the coming years. “We have a stable market that is open to new ideas and products,” Kulmar said. “Why wouldn’t overseas retailers want to be here? We will be making way for international premium brands.”

Australia is a dynamic retail marketplace with a consumer spending power that creates opportunities for overseas competition, Kulmar said.