Aussie's say digital catalogues are a stress-free and useful way to window shop

Almost 4 million Australians are using digital catalogues alone rather than hard copy versions saying they are a useful tool and stress-free way to window shop, according to the latest research.

There’s no denying Australians love a catalogue with 93% reading a physical or digital version. However, recent research by Roy Morgan, reveals there’s been a rapid uptake of digital catalogues with 3.8 million or 18.5 percent of Aussies exclusively reading them via a digital platform.

“This is an increase of 76% when you compare the same statistics from a 2017 report,” says ShopFully Australia Manager Dean Vocisano.

ShopFully is a leading digital platform used by more than 50 million smartphone users worldwide to prepare for their shopping in their local stores. According to ShopFully, which markets retailers digitally and drives shoppers to physical and e-commerce stores, the shift from hard copy to digital catalogues is just the next natural step for Australians.

“Just as we have seen habits change when it comes to consuming video and music through streaming platforms, more Australians are now turning to digital platforms to view their much-loved catalogues,” says Mr Vocisano.

“We really think this shift is a natural progression from physical to digital consumer habits,” explains Mr Vocisano. “It’s not only more convenient; it’s a matter of sustainability with more people aware of the impact of the overuse of materials such as paper and plastic.”

Australian retailers who have so far partnered with ShopFully to house their digital catalogues on a single platform include Coles, Big W, The Reject Shop, Telstra, and Harris Scafe to name a few.

“This Roy Morgan research highlights the need for retailers to carefully consider their marketing budget as we can now safely say digital catalogues are becoming a preference for Aussies,” says Mr Vocisano

About 80% of those surveyed by Roy Morgan said they read digital catalogues to discover new products and 69% said it was a stress-free way to browse or window shop. For some, inspiration for new gifts was key (68%) while reading a digital catalogue was also a way to relax and unwind (38%).

Meanwhile, 80% of people were also likely to tell a friend about what they say in a digital catalogue, with 4.6 million Australians or 46% of readers emailing or texting a picture of a product to friend or family member.

“Digital catalogues certainly make it easier for people to pass on information and have less physical clutter in their lives which is also an important emerging trend,” says Mr Vocisano.

About ShopFully

ShopFully is a “mobile to store” platform used by over 50M users worldwide. The company partners with more than 650 retailers, empowering shopping in physical stores through digital technologies. Through its properties and partner properties, ShopFully helps shoppers find the best deals in their local shopping precincts or online; displaying the latest catalogues and weekly ads from a range of exciting retailers across various categories. For more information: corporate.shopfullygroup.com