Lithuanians, Latvians and Estonians are all busy shopping online, as the holidays approach. As a result Venipak, the international parcel delivery company, set a record in the Baltic States in November, by delivering over one million parcels. Lithuanians and Estonians were the biggest buyers, while an increasing number of shoppers opted for deliveries via a parcel terminal this year.
Almost one fifth more parcels
Karolis Kanapinskas, Head of Logistics at Venipak, stated that online shopping habits are quite similar in all the Baltic countries. According to a survey conducted by the KOG Institute in October, more than one fifth of Lithuanians, Latvians and Estonians shop online every 3–4 weeks.
He also pointed out that the number of parcels delivered in the Baltic countries during the week of the biggest sales was 19% higher this year than last year, compared to the average for a normal day.
“With over one million deliveries in November, we set a record in the Baltics. In Lithuania, the number of parcels delivered during the week of the biggest sales was a quarter higher than last year, while in Estonia it was a fifth higher, and in Latvia the trend was similar,” Mr Kanapinskas remarked.
Estonians were the most active buyers and Latvians the most passive
According to Karolis Kanapinskas, every year there is a tendency for online shopping to intensify at the end of the year. People want to purchase gifts in advance, and the abundance of e-shops makes it possible to shop quickly and conveniently from home.
“Our data shows that in the first three days of the week after the end-of-year sales were over, compared to normal days, the number of parcels delivered in the Baltic countries overall was a quarter higher than in the same period last year,” Mr Kanapinskas said.
The number of parcel deliveries in Estonia grew by 36% in the week after Black Friday compared to 2022. Lithuania was not far behind, with a 30% growth in the number of parcels. Meanwhile, in Latvia, the number of parcel deliveries increased by a few percent after the big sales period.
According to Karolis Kanapinskas, the busiest day for Estonian and Lithuanian e-merchants this year was the Tuesday following Cyber Monday.
Deliveries to parcel terminals are gaining popularity
According to Mr Kanapinskas, more and more customers are choosing to pick up their parcels from a parcel terminal. “Compared to the same period last year, the popularity of home deliveries has fallen by 5%, while the use of parcel terminals has increased by the same amount. The growing habit of picking up parcels from parcel terminals is another phase of market maturity. These networks are expanding, while the technologies are improving, and customers are realising that this pick-up method is not only convenient and time-saving, but also more environmentally-friendly,” Karolis Kanapinskas pointed out.
He noted that in the last three months, the use of parcel terminals in Lithuania has grown by 19%. According to the KOG study, Venipak parcel terminals are often chosen by shoppers because of their convenient locations, speed of delivery, extensive network and the ability to conveniently pick up a parcel in a contactless way, by simply scanning a QR code.
Mr Kanapinskas also pointed out that, as the holidays approach, it is advisable to finish shopping for Christmas presents in advance, without waiting until the last minute. “Otherwise, you should take the latest dates provided by the trader or shipping company into account. It is also important to understand that a smooth delivery not only depends on the performance of the delivery company, but also on the role played by the companies from which the parcel is purchased, the timing when the parcel will be ready to be handed over to the courier and, of course, the planning of the buyer.”
Venipak will deliver all the parcels received in the Baltic States by 21 December, to arrive before Christmas.
The KOG Institute survey was carried out in October this year in all three Baltic countries. The survey included 504 Estonian, 605 Lithuanian and 504 Latvian residents.
