BLOG: Tablet Users Spend More Money Online

By Jim Donovan: Tablet computers may only represent a small part of the computer market, but its influence is growing and retailers are certainly taking notice.

US consumers spent $150 billion shopping online in 2010, with three percent of that coming from mobile devices like smart phones and handheld touchscreen tablet computers. But a study which was conducted by market research firm comScore shows that even though only nine percent of online shoppers own tablets, the ones that do typically spend more time, and more importantly, more money online.

Department store giant Macy's created tablet and mobile-friendly sites that load faster on smaller devices. While companies like QVC, Nordstrom and Crate & Barrel created free mobile apps, which allow shoppers to skip the website altogether.