The UK’s Top 50 Ecommerce Sites

The Top 50 UK Ecommerce Sites Recently, Hitwise published their 2007 list of the top 50 e-commerce websites in the UK.

While many of the usual suspects are represented, it’s worth noting how consumer demand compares with the huge differences in the quality of customer experiences offered by these sites.

Of course, it’s one thing to know who the top retailers are, but it’s quite another to have qualitative data that shows how certain e-commerce sites actually engage customers. That’s why we spent months reviewing hundreds of American retailers for Future Now’s 2007 Retail Customer Experience Survey — and why we’re expanding our research to include EU retailers.

In just two weeks, I’ll be at the Search Engine Strategies conference in London, where we’ll discuss web analytics, boosting conversions, and most of all, redefining the customer (experience). In the meantime, I’d love to hear from our European friends, colleagues and readers, about whether you think this list is a good place to start:

1. Amazon UK
2. Play.com
3. Argos
4. Tesco.com
5. Apple Computer
6. Dell EMEA
7. Amazon.com
8. Marks & Spencer
9. Tesco Direct
10. Next
11. HMV.co.uk
12. Expedia.co.uk
13. Thomson Holidays
14. LastMinute.com
15. Currys
16. Ticketmaster UK
17. John Lewis
18. RyanAir
19. easyJet
20. British Airways

[See the rest of The IMRG-Hitwise Hot Shops List.]

Any other European retailers you’d like us to evaluate? Let’s hear it in the comments!

P.S. If you are going to be at Search Engine Strategies in London and then a few weeks later in NY, let me know. I’d love to connect with some of our readers.

In Research, Retail, e-commerce

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Comments (13)

Tom
February 7th, 2008
4:30 am

Quite old now, but I remember this from a while back. May be worth going through some of the poorly rated websites to see how they’re coming along (you’ll see Next on that list)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6180362.stm

Personally, I’d have thought John Lewis would have been higher.
Ben
February 7th, 2008
5:02 am

I’d like to see Boden looked at- big mailorder/web clothes retailer (£160 million sales last year)-

http://www.boden.co.uk

Check out this article for background and more stats:

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/news/article.html?in_article_id=422796&in_page_id=2

I’ll be at SES london- looking forward to it!!

Ben
Steve
February 7th, 2008
7:55 am

At lastsome serious study into the UK/USA web business stats, well done guys. As a company based in the US selling services in the UK we find stuff like this valuable. I’ll be in NY at the show, see you there I hope.
Bloggers Digest 2/8/2008 - Get Elastic Ecommerce Blog
February 8th, 2008
12:19 pm

[...] who the top 50 UK online retailers are according to [...]
Miinews
February 11th, 2008
10:49 am

http://www.xl.com/ ?
Jill
February 11th, 2008
11:51 am

If you’re going to look at Tescos, then I would suggest you should compare other online services by mainstream supermarkets:

http://www.sainsburys.co.uk (similar persona buyer)
http://www.waitrose.co.uk (higher end – part of John Lewis Group)
http://www.asda.co.uk (lower end)
http://www.morrisons.co.uk (lower end)
http://www.lidl.co.uk (lowest – often located in poor areas)
http://www.aldi.co.uk (lowest – often located in poor areas)

I would also be interested to see companies that have a big retail presence but a woefully inadequate online presence, particularly clothing companies such as:

http://www.primark.co.uk
http://www.newlook.co.uk

Also amazed that boots.com isn’t on there.
Richard Longhurst
February 12th, 2008
9:18 am

Hi Bryan,
The Hitwise list really is a bit of a yawn – it’s the usual suspects (yet again). Most people could probably guess that they’d be the top retailers without too much trouble.

These massive companies don’t need any help in analysing their customer experiences – they’ve got the budgets to do it.

How about looking at smaller pureplay companies like http://www.lovehoney.co.uk/ (he said self-interestedly).

Companies like LoveHoney are doing great work, building good Web sites and good businesses without the bottomless pockets of a Lastminute, Tesco, Dell or Apple.

Please cast the net wider and bring us your views on sites other than those that we see *all* the time…

Thanks!
Richard
Rachael
February 24th, 2008
6:10 am

Is http://www.lovehoney.co.uk/ a brick and mortar business, or are they just online?
Rachel
http://www.garmentmerchant.com
Richard Longhurst
February 25th, 2008
4:07 am

LoveHoney is an online business – we don’t have any shops.
Richard
joanne
May 27th, 2008
8:44 am

Hi there again .

I want to know is http://dawnswears a actual business or just online . I really want to know as they have a promotion at the momemt and i would mind going in to get my free gift . If its local to sheffield .
joanne
May 27th, 2008
8:46 am

wow just found this shop , can anyone tell me if this is a good deal with shops .

its http://www.sexyplaytimes.co.uk/index.php

its spend £20 get a free gift . Does anyone know if any shops do better free gifts deals . i love a bargain …
Marcus
August 7th, 2008
10:07 am

I agree. the top sites list is a total bore.
How about http://www.prepaymania.co.uk pureplay focus, great vibe.

That said they are just online not brick and mortar
Nilesh
September 4th, 2009
5:53 am

Play.com is poor. Their customer service people are so indifferent that they don’t care what specifications of products are displayed.. whether it confuses the customer… it is not their concern. This shows what kind of people they have trying to “serve” the customers. Pathetic attitude and totally mechanical. Just interested in withdrawing salary and let company go to hell.

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