Global online sales reach $1.14 trn in 2022 holiday season: Salesforce

12 Jan '23

2 min read

Pic: Shutterstock

Global consumers spent $1.14 trillion in online shopping, according to the 2022 holiday shopping recap of Salesforce. The total online sales for the 2022 holiday season in US were $270 billion. Cyber Week deals and buy online and pick up in store (BOPIS) offerings were the main factors that helped retailers drive success in 2022 holiday season.

Nearly one out of every five online orders placed globally this holiday season were via BOPIS. Adoption of BOPIS by consumers peaked at 35 per cent of all orders on the Friday before the Christmas holiday as shoppers retrieved last-minute gifts.

When the ground shipping window closed on December 15, US companies that offered BOPIS grew their revenue nearly 7X faster than those without this fulfilment option, as per Salesforce.

Holliday returns spiked to record highs in 2022, as 1.39 billion orders purchased this holiday season were returned, accounting for 13 per cent of total holiday orders and a 63 per cent increase in returns year-on-year (YoY). These numbers spiked in the six days after Christmas, with 16 per cent of orders returned over that week—a 5 per cent increase over last year.

Retailers got shoppers’ attention with discounts in the runup to Christmas. After lacklustre deals early in the season, retailers increased discounts. In the end, shoppers saw better deals than the 2021 holiday season—a 21 per cent average discount compared to 19 per cent the year prior. General apparel and handbags were the second most discounted categories at 27 per cent.

Social media referrals hit an all-time high. Shoppers were adept at finding the products they wanted through all forms of commerce, but social media proved to be a growing favourite in 2022. Traffic referrals from social media hit an all-time high this holiday season, driving 12 per cent of all mobile traffic (up 23 per cent YoY). Belgium, Italy, and the US represented the countries with the most social media-minded shoppers.

"In 2023, retailers must double down on efforts to put the customer at the centre of their business with data-driven personalisation and efficient operations in areas such as fulfilment, service, and returns," said Rob Garf, VP and GM of retail, Salesforce.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DP)