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Online
Holiday Shopping In Kentucky Expected to Surpass $182 Million
Released
by CITE - Center for Information Technology Enterprise, Inc.
Contact: Susan Dennis / 270.781.4320 x 27
Bowling Green,
KY - While online retailers tinker with their offerings in anticipation
of increasing holiday sales, the Research Group at the Center
for Information Technology Enterprise
is putting the  finishing
touches on
a final report that highlights the adoption of technology, such
as making purchases on the Internet, within the state of Kentucky.
This year's
connectkentucky report is set to be released at a CITE legislative
press briefing in Frankfort next month. The report provides a
snapshot of information technology use within the Commonwealth
and indicates that Kentuckians are actively using the Internet
and shopping online to the tune of $182 million during the "Holiday
Gift Giving Season". According to the connectkentucky report
and data from the third annual UK ecomm survey, one out of every
five online shoppers spent nearly $500 on their purchases last
holiday season.
"Two
million Kentucky adults are actively using the Internet an d
this is having a significant impact on retail purchasing behavior.
Not only are Kentuckians purchasing directly from online retailers,
their traditional, offline purchases are being driven by information
they find on the Internet," says Brian Mefford, director
of connectkentucky and CITE Research Group.
"During
last year's holiday season, there were an estimated 560,000 Kentucky
adults making online purchases, spending an average of $325 on
those purchases," adds Mefford. "With consumer confidence
on the rise and more people turning to the Internet for convenient
shopping, I think we'll see an increase in online spending this
year."
Nearly half
of Kentuckians making online purchases were selecting clothing
or shoes. Online shoppers purchasing books and magazines did not
change significantly in the past three years, however, those who
choose this type of merchandise shop online monthly and more often
than the average shopper.
Another merchandise
category to take note of is home electronics purchases. Nearly
20 percent of online shoppers purchasing home electronics also
tend to purchase merchandise from many other categories, both
large-ticket items as well as lower priced items such as movies
and music. Other merchandise categories such as software continue
to grow in popularity. Software is now purchased by 30 percent
of online shoppers in Kentucky. Of those software shoppers, half
report purchasing banking and financial products online.
-more-
Just as online
shoppers make choices to purchase within and outside the Commonwealth
via the Internet, it is imperative to use this same technology
for economic recovery and job growth within the state. Through
the transformation of business development and technology advancements,
deployment of affordable broadband will provide convenience and
ensure competitiveness within the global economy. As the adoption
of technology continues to grow, it is crucial to implement public
policies that improve the information communications network within
the state and to encourage hi-tech business and organizations
to do business within Kentucky.
CITE has evaluated
the potential to accelerate broadband use across the state of
Kentucky, through its flagship project, connectkentucky, a public-private
partnership with the Office for the New Economy, private industry,
state universities and CITE. The evaluation is located at the
connectkentucky website, http://www.connectkentucky.org/
Through connectkentucky,
CITE supports efforts to encourage the deployment of broadband
communications services. Ultimately, such efforts to promote competition
will prove to be effective in improving the telecommunications
infrastructure in all areas of the state, particularly in those
which are currently underserved.
Coming in
January the connectkentucky Annual Report 2003 will lay the foundation
to develop and carry out market-driven strategies that increase
business, consumer and government use of technology.
# # #
connectkentucky is a public-private partnership between Kentucky's
Office for the New Economy, private industry, Kentucky's universities
and CITE (the Center for Information Technology Enterprise, Inc.).
connectkentucky's industry partners currently include: Alltel
(NYSE: AT), Bank One (NYSE: ONE), Belcan, Bellsouth (NYSE: BLS),
Cincinnati Bell (NYSE: CBB), CSX (NYSE: CSX), Humana (NYSE: HUM),
Insight Communications (NASDAQ: ICCI), LeapFrog, Nortel Networks
(NYSE: NT), Qwest (NYSE: Q), Toyota (NYSE: TM), USEC (NYSE: USU),
and Yum! Brands (NYSE: YUM).
CITE (pronounced
"sight"), the program leader of connectkentucky, is
a contract research organization that provides information technology
strategy and policy planning to business, government, and educational
institutions around the globe. For more information, go to http://www.connectkentucky.org
or call Brian Mefford at 270-781-4320.
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