Hispanics shop more online than average Web user and shop earlier in holiday season

NEW YORK, Dec. 2, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Experian Marketing Services, a global provider of integrated consumer insights, targeting and cross-channel marketing, released a new Hispanic shopping analysis that shows Hispanic adults are more frequently visiting retailer Websites than the average online population. During a 24-week period, from June 2013 through November 2013, Hispanics' market share of visits to Experian Marketing Services' Hitwise^® Retail 500 Websites was 21 percent higher on average than the online population. Further, the analysis found that this market share widened in October 2013 and continued to increase through November.

"Our analysis indicates that Hispanic adults are shopping online more frequently than the online population and that they are shopping earlier in the season this year," said Heather Dougherty, research director at Experian Marketing Services. "Those Websites most frequently visited by Hispanic shoppers mirror the online population, with Amazon.com, Walmart.com and Target.com leading overall. However, our analysis also found that smartphones are clearly a key shopping tool for Hispanic consumers; so, ultimately, those retailers that win this highly influential and socially active consumer will be those with savvy mobile strategies and cross-channel execution capabilities."

Experian Marketing Services found that 54 percent of Hispanic smartphone owners visit shopping sites from their mobile browser during a typical month and they spend more time browsing those sites than non-Hispanic smartphone owners. Hispanic adults are visiting department store mobile Websites more frequently than non-Hispanics. In the past 30 days, Macys.com leads this trend as the most overindexing shopping site visited by Hispanic smartphone owners from their mobile phone.

The findings of the analysis include the following:

Hispanic adults are more interested in mobile ads and more likely to purchase products that are advertised on mobile devices
Hispanic adults who own smartphones are twice as likely as non-Hispanics to say that they are interested in receiving advertisements on their phone and 58 percent more likely to purchase products they see advertised on their phone. Hispanic adults who own smartphones are 13 percent more likely than non-Hispanics to say that they often use their mobile phone while shopping to find local deals.

"Hispanic consumers embrace the concept of the 'always-on' consumer," said Dougherty. "There is a significant opportunity for retailers and marketers to reach Hispanic shoppers as they shop and to drive engagement, even purchases, on their mobile device."

Hispanic adults are more likely to visit mobile shopping Websites but app usage is only average
Interestingly, the analysis found that while Hispanic smartphone owners are more likely to visit mobile shopping Websites, their use of shopping apps overall is only average. 37 percent of Hispanic smartphone owners use a shopping app on their phone during a typical month, compared with 38 percent of non-Hispanic smartphone owners.

"Mobile apps are one of the only digital touch points where usage for Hispanic adults is average which highlights an opportunity for potential growth," said Dougherty. "Retailers looking to better engage the Hispanic consumer on digital channels should not only optimize their Website content for mobile but also offer Websites and apps in Spanish. This strategy could engage potential customers who may prefer to shop in their first language."

However, there are certain shopping apps that Hispanics use at rates exceeding their non-Hispanic counterparts.

Hispanic adults access social media more frequently, across more devices
Hispanic social media users access social media more frequently than non-Hispanics. In fact, 69 percent access social media at least once a day, compared with 62 percent of non-Hispanics. During a typical week, Hispanic social media users are more likely than non-Hispanics to access social media properties via many devices, including gaming consoles (index 121 versus non-Hispanics), MP3 players (index 118), smartphone Web browsers (index 117), smartphone apps (index 112) and digital tablet apps (index 103, despite lower tablet ownership rates among Hispanics). However, Hispanic social media users are less likely than average to access social media through a PC either at work (index 84) or at home (index 80).

"Retailers hoping to reach Hispanic shoppers should consider social media channels and need to ensure that their communications are optimized to work on a variety of platforms," said Dougherty.

Hispanic social media users are more likely to follow brands
Hispanic social media users also are 6 percent more likely than non-Hispanics to follow companies and brands on social media and 30 percent more likely to say that they are likely to purchase products that they see advertised on social media properties.

The analysis leverages Experian Marketing Services' Simmons Connect^SM, a comprehensive, continuously fielded study that connects detailed insights on consumers' use of 11 traditional and digital media platforms to brand preferences, shopping habits, opinions, lifestyles, media consumption and language preferences of both English and Spanish speakers, and Hitwise^®,the world's largest sample of online consumer behavior that connects online insights with offline lifestyle and life stage information.

To read more about this analysis, you can download the report here.

About Experian Marketing Services
Experian Marketing Services is a global provider of integrated consumer insights and targeting, data quality and cross-channel marketing. We help organizations from around the world intelligently interact with today's dynamic, empowered and hyperconnected customers. By coordinating seamless interactions across all marketing channels, marketers are able to plan and execute superior brand experiences that deepen customer loyalty, strengthen brand advocacy and maximize profits.

For more information, please visit http://www.experian.com/marketingservices.

About Experian
Experian^® is the leading global information services company, providing data and analytical tools to clients around the world. The Group helps businesses to manage credit risk, prevent fraud, target marketing offers and automate decision making. Experian also helps individuals to check their credit report and credit score, and protect against identity theft.

Experian plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (EXPN) and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 index. Total revenue for the year ended March 31, 2013, was US$4.7 billion. Experian employs approximately 17,000 people in 40 countries and has its corporate headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, with operational headquarters in Nottingham, UK; California, US; and Sao Paulo, Brazil.

For more information, visit http://www.experianplc.com.

Experian and the Experian marks used herein are service marks or registered trademarks of Experian Information Solutions, Inc. Other product and company names mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.

Contact:
Suzanne Blackburn
Experian Marketing Services
1 212 863 4648
[email protected]

SOURCE Experian Marketing Services