In 2007, online sales were estimated to be US$260bn and have a growth rate of approximately 25%, with apparel accounting for US$24.2bn of those sales.

The internet is having a huge impact on consumers and business alike, in terms of interaction, ease of use and increased profitability. Ecommerce, or e-retailing, is steadily growing along with consumer internet usage. As more people begin to gain broadband access and technology advances, customer and business interactions expand and flourish to unforeseen heights.

Besides offering significant advantages to consumers, online retailing has commercial advantages as well. It allows much larger inventory breadth, offers cost savings through a lack of physical infrastructure and overheads, and potentially offers a global consumer base to almost any size of business.

Supported by case studies, interviews and industry comment, this comprehensive report from just-style looks at the global online apparel retail sector. Coverage includes information on the main players in the US and Europe, the advantages, difficulties and considerations of online selling, and market trends 2005-2014. E-commerce vs traditional retailing is also discussed, along with legislation, trade advantages and growth, and the future of online retailing.

Report coverage:
An executive summary provides an introduction to this sector, the reasoning and factors behind its growth and the current landscape of retail in the US, Europe and UK.

Chapter one - Main players
Specialty stores and brand name manufacturers lead the online apparel market, with discount and other stores having a good share of the consumer demographic. This chapter looks at the major global stores, brands and manufacturers, profiling the major players in both the US and European/UK markets and offering case studies of Success Apparel and Realiltyplus Clothing.

Chapter two - How the retail market fits with an online strategy
The current economic climate represents many challenges for bricks-and-mortar retailers, especially with an increase in competition, rising rents and the rise of online consumer spending.

This chapter reviews the current state of the online retailing market, including a ranking of the top 10 online apparel destinations, and showing the global conversion rate % by online business sector.

Chapter three - Advantages of online selling
With the internet continuing to be one of the most used resources worldwide, retailers are continuing to use it as an additional market for their brands. They can increase consumer awareness, develop an interactive feel and make the online shopping experience a personal and enjoyable one. Amongst the advantages explored in this chapter are privacy, minimal set up costs and complimentary add-ons.

Chapter four - The difficulties and considerations of online selling
The internet represents a unique selling medium that does not allow consumers to use those senses that they are used to using when buying, such as touch, and this is one of the primary reasons why apparel sales on the internet are comparatively slow. This chapter considers the barriers associated with online retailing, such as consumer loyalty, security concerns and refund policies.

Chapter five - Market trends, 2006-2014
This chapter provides online apparel sales data for 2006 through 2014 for both the US and European Union. We also look at overall consumption and selling trends, the % share of online sales, and the year-on-year change in online sales by apparel category for womenswear, menswear and childrenswear.

Chapter six - Considerations for retailing
In relation to e-commerce and the sale of apparel online there are four main considerations that should be evaluated in order to judge business performance:
· the number of visits compared to sales;
· company performance history;
· companies per sector and segment performance;
· and business targets, goals and sales forecasts.

This chapter explores this further, including the repeat buyer versus the new buyer, consumer restrictions and consumer longevity.

Chapter seven - Online apparel sales challenges
This chapter analyses the latest major factors governing internet sales and the e-retailer, such as fulfilment, consumer control, diversifying operations and outsourcing.

Chapter eight - Legislation
We identify the main considerations of production and sale of apparel in the US, maintained and regulated by government legislation, as well as the trade advantages associated with the lack of legislation on some imports and exports.

Chapter nine - The future
The number of internet users is continually growing, and with this comes business expansion for e-commerce - especially as more consumers become net savvy and technology gets increasingly more innovative, making the online shopping experience one that is accurate and enjoyable.

Chapter ten - offers a conclusion to the report and its findings.

Chapter 1 Main players
Selected US players
Gap
Victoria’s Secret
Abercrombie & Fitch
AE.com
Guess
UK and European players
Next
Dorothy Perkins
Case studies
Success Apparel
Small business retail success online
Realityplus Clothing: an online success story

Chapter 2 How the retail market fits with an online strategy

Chapter 3 Advantages of online selling
Switched online approach
Creating a virtual atmosphere
Complimentary add-ons
Privacy
Minimal set-up costs
Niche markets

Chapter 4 The difficulties and considerations of online selling
Personal information exchange
Consumer loyalty
Customer acquisition costs
Small purchases
Online returns policies
Possible solutions to improving online difficulties

Chapter 5 Market trends, 2006-2014
Online apparel sales in the US
Online apparel sales in Europe
Online apparel sales in the UK
Overall consumption trends
Overall selling trends
Women’s wear
Women’s wear: accessories
Women’s wear: jeans
Women’s wear: general apparel
Women’s wear: sub-segments
Women’s wear: T-shirts
Women’s wear: dresses
Women’s wear: plus-size apparel
Women’s wear: uniforms
Women’s wear: the UK
Women’s wear: niche markets
Women’s wear: intimate apparel
Women’s wear: specialty
Men’s wear
Men’s wear: market
Men’s wear: formal wear
Men’s wear: T-shirts
Men’s wear: jeans and pants
Men’s wear: underwear
Children’s wear
Children’s wear: infants and toddlers
Children’s wear: teens
Children’s wear: market
Children’s wear: segments
Children’s wear: luxury
Children’s wear: the UK

Chapter 6 Considerations for retailing apparel online
Repeat buyer versus new buyer
Consumer restrictions
Shopping longevity
Time of visit

Chapter 7 Online apparel sales challenges
Fulfilment returns
The integration of systems
Consumer control
Diversifying operations
Customer service
Outsourcing
Poor fulfilment costs
E-fulfilment
Sizing issues
Technology
Customer sizing – measurements
Customer sizing – body scanning
Customer sizing – the virtual consumer
Large number of stock-keeping units (SKUs)
Outsourcing inventory management

Chapter 8 Legislation
Trade advantages

Chapter 9 The future

Chapter 10 Conclusion

List of figures
Figure 1: US internet usage profile 2007 (% reporting type of use)
Figure 2: Barriers to online apparel shopping in 2007 (%)

List of tables
Table 1: Top online apparel destinations, week ending 28 June 2008
Table 2: Global conversion rate 2007 (% per sector)
Table 3: US online apparel sales 2006-2014 (US$bn)
Table 4: European Union apparel sales (online and total) 2006-2014 (US$bn and %)
Table 5: Global women's apparel sales (online and total) 2006-2014 (US$bn and %)
Table 6: Global women's apparel 2007 online sales by segment (US$bn and % change)
Table 7: Year-on-year change in dress sales by wearer size (%)
Table 8: European Union men’s apparel sales (online and total) 2006-2014 (US$bn and %)
Table 9: Hot global online apparel sales by category, year over year change, 2005-2007 (%)
Table 10: US online men's jeans and pants sales 2006-2014 (US$m)
Table 11: US online children’s apparel sales 2006-2014 (m’s units and %)
Table 12: Global children’s apparel sales (online and total) 2006-2014 (US$bn)