While many regional retailers have decried the advent of the online rush – and the flood of money it seems to have swept outside traditional town businesses – it would appear locals have fought back to at least enlist some financial backflow from the enemy.

Local businesses have in many instances hopped on the bandwagon of the online express – setting up facilities to provide online sales along with their over-the-counter products.

It’s interesting, then, to see the result of some consumer research which suggests the north-western outpost of Gurley, best known for its well-worn track to Moree, the blip it is on the Newell Highway route, its grain heritage and latterly, its political muscle via some locals, is a shining light in the beacon of business.

Gurley, it appears, might be sparsely populated, but research shows the village is one of the most mobile savvy regional centres in Australia when it comes to online shopping.

The data comes from the online payment system PayPal, which has something like 150 million users worldwide.

An Aussie count via PayPal shows a whopping 72 per cent of all online transactions in Gurley take place on a mobile device – the average across the country is about 40 per cent.

Clothing, shoes and accessories are the most purchased items by Gurley residents shopping on their mobiles.

Locals are not bemused – in fact, they’reamused and accepting of it. 

They reckon their isolated location and “fantastic” post office have led to it.

And there’s even apparently locals who are producing products for online sale. So, go figure. The times, they are certainly a’changing.

The Australian Retailers Association anticipates Australians will spend about $2.8 billion online this Christmas – but while it’s a phenomenon many feel is fantastic and fast, there’s also some danger if you’re hoping to fill those stockings beforehand.

Aussie consumers looking to complete their Christmas shopping online should be looking to finalise their purchases in the first week of December to ensure the arrival of gifts in time, the group says.

So, while online and e-commerce has offered such great benefits to many in the bush, it has also come with some irreversible hassles – when it’s in the mail, it’s in the mail, and not even Santa on his sleigh can pluck it out in time if it misses the post.

While many regional retailers have decried the advent of the online rush – and the flood of money it seems to have swept outside traditional town businesses – it would appear locals have fought back to at least enlist some financial backflow from the enemy.

Local businesses have in many instances hopped on the bandwagon of the online express – setting up facilities to provide online sales along with their over-the-counter products.

It’s interesting, then, to see the result of some consumer research which suggests the north-western outpost of Gurley, best known for its well-worn track to Moree, the blip it is on the Newell Highway route, its grain heritage and latterly, its political muscle via some locals, is a shining light in the beacon of business.

Gurley, it appears, might be sparsely populated, but research shows the village is one of the most mobile savvy regional centres in Australia when it comes to online shopping.

The data comes from the online payment system PayPal, which has something like 150 million users worldwide.

An Aussie count via PayPal shows a whopping 72 per cent of all online transactions in Gurley take place on a mobile device – the average across the country is about 40 per cent.

Clothing, shoes and accessories are the most purchased items by Gurley residents shopping on their mobiles.

Locals are not bemused – in fact, they’reamused and accepting of it. 

They reckon their isolated location and “fantastic” post office have led to it.

And there’s even apparently locals who are producing products for online sale. So, go figure. The times, they are certainly a’changing.

The Australian Retailers Association anticipates Australians will spend about $2.8 billion online this Christmas – but while it’s a phenomenon many feel is fantastic and fast, there’s also some danger if you’re hoping to fill those stockings beforehand.

Aussie consumers looking to complete their Christmas shopping online should be looking to finalise their purchases in the first week of December to ensure the arrival of gifts in time, the group says.

So, while online and e-commerce has offered such great benefits to many in the bush, it has also come with some irreversible hassles – when it’s in the mail, it’s in the mail, and not even Santa on his sleigh can pluck it out in time if it misses the post.