Infographic: Thereâs a £900m Marketplace for Social Commerce in the UK

One-third of consumers (32%) polled said they’re ready to buy via social media, pointing to a social commerce tipping point retailers can’t ignore.

UK consumers are willing to spend an average of £55.68 on a single item via social channels, equating to social commerce marketplace of 16 million UK adults spending an estimated £900m.

The gender spending gap is wide and men lead the charge. Women are prepared to spend £36.25 on a single item but men double that figure with an estimated, single-item spend of £73.75.

The time for social commerce in the UK has most certainly arrived. While many retailers may choose to wait until this new channel grows beyond the early adopters, a potential £900m marketplace is something brands shouldn’t overlook. While it’s no surprise that younger age groups are more active on social media, there is also ample opportunity to target households with children and those aged 35-44 years old.

The key to success for UK retailers will be to begin testing the waters now, before they miss the boat and lose ground to more socially aware competitors.