What if online stores took to the high street?

How would online retailers fare if they were to compete on the UK high street? That’s what European technology firm Raisin has tried to find out. Using mobile and desktop search visibility versus revenue, the company has visualised how much space online shops command in comparison to physical stores in a “virtual high street”.

In terms of fashion retailers, e-tailer Asos commands 32.5 percent of the virtual high-street, with high street retailer Debenhams holding its own and coming in second place at 24.8 percent. Online fast-fashion brands Boohoo (9.6 percent), Missguided (6.7 percent) and Pretty Little Thing (7.1 percent) stand up against established high street retailers such as H&M (5.5 percent), New Look (7.4 percent) and Topshop (1.9 percent).

Collectively, online fashion stores drive over 55 percent of the market.

Photo credit: Raisin

Amazon dominates retail

In terms of general retailers, Amazon takes poll position, occupying 60.4 percent of the virtual high street.

In comparison, online shopping site eBay claims 23.4 percent of the virtual high street, and Argos comes out the most popular physical retailer retaining 9.1 percent.

Despite online trends and the decline of the British high street, physical retailers have remained prominent through the virtual representation. Raisin speculated that the decline of the high street may not be as widespread as publicised.

Photo credit: Jeshoots.com, Pexel