The BRC – Google Online Retail Monitor for Q2 2018 reported a positive outcome for year on year growth of mobile searches for home and garden products.

The key findings were:

Overseas mobile searches for UK brands grew by 17% YoY in Q2 2018. This is up from 13% in Q1.

The North & Yorkshire represented the highest portion of Google searches in Q2, with 26%. This was higher than Greater London’s 23%.

Beauty saw YoY growth of 10% for UK mobile users in Q2 2018. This is lower than the 10% seen in Q1.

Home & Garden saw the highest YoY growth for Overseas mobile searches with growth 29% YoY in Q2 2018.

Italy demonstrated the strongest year on year growth in searches for UK brands from the EU, reporting 31% growth in Q2 2018.

Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium, Helen Dickinson OBE commented: "The scorching summer sun has inevitably meant that online searches for home and garden products - like barbeques and garden furniture - were among the top search terms across Europe and beyond. At the same time, end of school term has created a surge in searches for prom dresses and computer games to entertain kids during the long holidays.

“Online retail search activity is maintaining its growth trajectory, being driven by consumers moving online to shop. Given this growth, some retailers will be looking at the opportunities for exporting offers to other countries.

“These trends will continue as retailers continue to invest in the evolution of their online offering for shoppers.”