Survey: Almost three-quarters of Czechs shop on deals sites

Prague, Feb 4 (CTK) - The share of Czechs shopping on flash-sale websites grew to almost three-quarters in the past year and a half, according to results of a survey released by consulting company KPMG.

The sites' sales increased to Kc2.8bn last year, KPMG said.

Czechs' interest in shopping on flash-sale websites rose markedly in the past year and half. A total of 49 percent of Czechs used the sites for shopping in May 2011, but now the share is 22 percent higher.

However, the number of flash-sale sites dropped from around 200 in May 2011 to roughly 120 now.

The structure of customers shopping on deals sites is also changing.

The age group doing most of the shopping on flash-sale sites were those aged 18 to 24 a year and a half ago, but now the most common age of the shoppers is 25 to 34 years. This age group accounts for one third of shopping on deals sites.

"Besides, the sector won confidence of customers thanks to market consolidation, and now even groups with less technical knowledge or willingness to order goods and services online are not afraid of shopping on the portals as a result. Around one-fifth of the customers are people older than 50 years," Michal Bares of KPMG said.

The most popular item on flash-sale sites are travelling offers that are sought by 66 percent of Czechs. Restaurant and coffee shop vouchers are bought on deals sites by 65 percent of Czechs, and cosmetics and nutritional supplements are purchased by 60 percent of people.

A total of 500 respondents aged between 18 and 65 years took part in the poll conducted by research agency Data Collect for KPMG in January.