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Men Are Shopping Online for Luxury Goods
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From our friends at MediashopPRBlog.com, here is a post today about men shopping online for luxury goods by Lisa Tibbitts:

"It’s no surprise that women are increasingly comfortable buying luxury goods online. The success of shopping sites such as Gilt.com, Ruelala.com, and Ideeli.com is proof.

But it seems that men are turning into online shopaholics, according to virtual payment processor PayPal. While men aren’t buying as much in the areas of groceries or clothing, they outspend women in every other online category, especially tech products, said PayPal’s U.K. Online Retail Report.

Surprisingly, men are even buying expensive jewelry online. In fact, jewelry e-tailer Blue Nile, Inc.’s e-commerce site is targeted at men, its primary customer. It believes that men appreciate the ability to compare information away from the “high-pressure jewelry counter,” said the Wall Street Journal.

MSNBC.com suggests that Americans are making small indulgences such as expensive coffees and single chocolates rather than big purchases like diamond rings. Nevertheless, Blue Nile estimates that it’s gained approximately 1% of the fragmented engagement ring market in the past six to nine months, bring its share to roughly 4.5% to 5.5%. Still, the WSJ reports that “the recession has ravaged the $60 billion annual U.S. jewelry industry.”

It seems that catering to male shoppers is catching on. Despite a significant redesign of its online environment, Blue Nile was determined to maintain its male-friendly feel. BeyondtheRack is a private shopping club that offers discounts on designer brands for women and men. It’s about time!

Lisa Tibbitts is the principal of Tibbitts Creative, a public relations and marketing service that emphasizes corporate communications. She has an extensive background in financial services and an MBA in marketing. Follow her on Twitter: http://twitter.com/FinancialPR."

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