When CarMax announced a successful first quarter of its 2015 fiscal year — notching a 9.8-percent increase in used sales — company management attributed much of this spike to an increase in both foot and Web traffic.

In fact, Web visits grew to over 14 million, representing a 25-percent increase compared to the same period last year.

Tom Folliard, company president and chief executive officer, pointed out during the company’s quarterly conference call last week that mobile site traffic soared, as well.

This metric represented 30 percent of total Web visits, while visits from the mobile app represented another 13 percent of the total site traffic.

And there were more shoppers making it onto the physical lots, as well.

Folliard said the boost in used comps this past quarter — used sales in comparable stores increased 3.4 percent — were driven by growth in store traffic.

During the Q-and-A portion of the call, investors were eager for more information on the increases in both Web and store traffic.

As for what factors are behind the increase of interest on the Internet, Folliard cited a few different variables.

First, he said, “I think we have a great website. I think we have a great search engine. I think we’ve done a really nice job of making sure that when customers are on our site, whether it’s through mobile or desktop or touchscreen, that they have a good experience.”

He also pointed out that every year, the Internet becomes an ever bigger source of information for consumers, “So, I think customers just naturally are going to go to the Web first.”

And though shoppers don’t have the option to complete a full transaction online, CarMax has been ramping up its website capabilities.

“We’ve been adding more and more capabilities for customers to do from home, and they’ve been taking advantage of that, and we’re very pleased with that so far,” Folliard said.

For example, CarMax recently added the capability for shoppers to put cars on hold and make appointments online without picking up the phone.

“We still have the capability in the number of stores for customers to transfer cars, even a pay transfer by giving their credit card online without speaking to anybody and having that car delivered,” said Folliard. “They can actually start their paper work online, making appointment for the sales consultant and show up a lot of the work already done. But in terms of fully consummating the deal online, we’re not doing that yet.”

He also pointed out that many CarMax shoppers still desire to test drive their used vehicle before purchasing.

And those very same customers may have contributed to some of the increase in store traffic this past quarter.

Folliard pointed out during the call another reason for higher levels of shoppers on the lots, of course, is store count growth.

During the first quarter, the used-car giant opened four stores, including three stores in new markets (Rochester, N.Y.; Dothan, Ala.; and Spokane, Wash.) and one in an existing market (Harrisburg/Lancaster, Pa.).

“We continue to expand our geographic footprint. So we are in more markets. So we are going to get some growth (in traffic) there as wel," Folliard said.

He also pointed out he expects store traffic to continue to grow in line with company expansion.

Folliard was also asked if the company has ever considered opening physical stores based on areas with high Web traffic.

“Well, it hasn’t …  at this point, we think the CarMax consumer offer works in just about any market in the U.S. and we are very excited to go to the places that we’re not, but we are also very excited to continue to add stores in the places where we are. And we haven’t seen that Web traffic by a particular locale is an indicative of where we should build the next store,” Folliard said.

“We really want to go build our stores where people are, because then they need cars and then they are buying from us,” he concluded.

For more on CarMax’ performance in Q1 as well as why the company’s wholesale unit sales are soaring, see the Auto Remarketing story here.