Sun Is Shining For ‘e-tail’

Half way through the year 2005, industry insiders had predicted that the next year will be a landmark year for online shopping in the United Kingdom. Now as we all know that it’s inching towards fulfilling that prophecy, but what happened last month, that is October 2006, was beyond everyone’s wildest imagination.

The Interactive Media in Retail Group (IMRG) reports that last month online sales touched a staggering £2.7 billion! It was the highest ever recorded figure of online sale, surpassing the previous highest achieved in December 2005 by a neat £250,000. Now that is some thing to show off.

With the IMRG predicting that online sales will reach its zenith in the 10 weeks previous to Christmas, the industry is geared up to handle the ‘rush’ (for them it will be nothing less than the ‘Gold Rush’). Projected figures show that this Christmas the volume of online retail, vis-à-vis sales, will be a humongous £7 billion, with almost 50% of that amount being spent in December only.

If anyone is carrying the notion that this will be just another passing phase, well for them its time for reality check! With the proliferation of broadband connectivity in distant parts of UK, the online retail industry is all set to shoot up by 40% in 2007. Even by humble estimates there is virtually no way that can stop the sales from touching the mark of £42 billion by next Christmas. So for those who are still planning to battle the High street rush, time you shop smarter.

Samuel Hary, a shopping expert with www.ukonlinemarket.co.uk, is your advisor when it comes to choosing the best online deals.