Online shopping is becoming a way of life for an increasing number of UK consumers and the Interactive Media in Retail Group estimates that more than £4 billion of goods and services will be bought over the internet in November and December.
Royal Mail and Parcelforce, which deliver 60% of all goods ordered online, expect to handle 40 million packages bought this way in the run up to Christmas.
James Roper, chief executive of IMRG, said: “The key to internet shopping is convenience, convenience, convenience. Are you going to spend half the day battling round the shops or half an hour browsing the internet from the comfort of your home?”
Following the success of the recent National Internet Home Shopping Day (see UK High Street Sales Fall As Online Commerce Doubles), the e-retail body is due to launch a website at the end of the month with information designed to mollify concerns about online shopping.
The IMRG estimates that there are 14 million regular internet shoppers in the UK who will spend a predicted £15.7 billion this year. The most popular products are books and CDs, followed by electrical equipment, and clothing.
