05 December 2007, 14:40 PM
  • This year, customers will be spending an estimated £1.8bn on Christmas-related goods online, according to figures released by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and market researcher, Nielsen.

It is an increase of more than £200m on last year and online sales now represent about 15% of the total £12bn splashed out on Christmas. The BRC also believes that most of the increase will come from more people being tempted by the internet, rather than existing shoppers spending more. This goes to show the growing importance the web is having in retailers achieving a successful festive season.

“This Christmas, the internet will be a more important channel than ever as consumers take advantage of retailers’ improved online offers, increased security and cheaper broadband,” says Kevin Hawkins, BRC director general. “There will be intense competition for online spending, with retailers vying for a share of this valuable channel, which is very much complementary to traditional methods of buying.”

Mike Watkins, senior manager at Nielsen, adds, “With the majority of households suggesting that they use the internet either everyday or on most days, it is now accepted as a secure and convenient way to shop and is becoming mainstream in retail. As a testament to this, our research shows that, when it comes to food, one fifth of consumers intend to buy their Christmas groceries online this year. This is an increase of 50% on 2006 and is significant when considering the pivotal role that food and drink play in our festivities.”