Men, Women, and E-Commerce

[mandy]

...what e-tailers need to be aware of to simultaneously reach male and female shoppers. It answers the question: Given the different online shopping styles of men and women, how can online merchants set up their site to maximize sales from both genders?

The question is a critical one for most online stores. Between April of 2004 and March of 2005, women were responsible for 58 percent of online spending vs. men's 42 percent

To sum up one of the research's findings, "Men stick to their mission, women expand their mission," says Edd Johns, Resource Interactive's executive director of strategy.

"If men are out to research the best digital camera or the best shirt, they're not doing much else," he says.

"Women, however, might come in and say, 'I'm interested in a digital camera,' and the next thing you know, they're looking at clothes for their kids, they're thinking about what they're doing that weekend and if they need to pick something up for their husbands."

But Johns stresses a critical point: Although women expand their mission, they don't abandon it....

full article: http://www.ecommerce-guide.com/solutions...hp/3577891

[mandy]

A related article on the differences between men and women 

Men are increasingly using the internet for their shopping needs while women still favour high street stores, research reveals...

The explanation is that women see shopping as a social experience, which the internet does not provide, and like to see what they are buying before parting with their cash experts said yesterday.

Cynthia McVey, a psychologist at Glasgow Caledonia University, said: "Stereotypes are true - many men don't like shopping on the high street. If they need something they will go online, have a look at it, assume it will be okay and buy it...

full article: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/03/12/nwebshop12.xml&sSheet=/news/2006/03/12/ixhome.html