Toys R Us and other retailers benefit from consumers who shop from work

It looks like ecommerce websites in general, and on line toy sales in particular, are faring better than anticipated in the fourth quarter. In a Dow Jones wire article entitled, “Retailers, Electronics, Toys Sites Up in November-comScore,” we learn that “Toys ‘R’ Us Inc. sites led the toys category with more than 14.8 million visitors, up 82% [from October], the fourth fastest-growing site in November.” This was better than Wal-Mart or Target.

What really caught my eye, however, was that 50% of online purchases on Cyber Monday (the ecommerce Black Friday) were made from work computers. 

Think about that for a minute; 50%.  That’s a mighty big percentage.   More and more, consumers are freeing themselves from the notion that the only time they can shop is during their leisure hours.  

This is of course bad news for companies employing these people.  It is, however, very good news for ecommerce providers who, unlike bricks and mortar retailers, don’t have to worry about consumers who have limited shopping windows or are constrained by bad weather.

My guess is that, unless employers learn how to monitor and control the use of work computers for personal business, we are going to see shopping become more and more of a 24 hour activity.  This is just another reason why ecommerce will continue to become a way of life whose convenience will not only continue to draw shoppers away from bricks and mortar retailers but change the very way that people live their lives.