Online retailers will be keeping a close eye on their sales as they witness what is forecast to be the biggest online shopping day of the year.
The Interactive Media in Retail Group (IMRG), an e-retail organisation, predicts that UK Christmas shoppers will spend over £180m online on Monday 4 December, which is more than double the £82m average for 2006.
Sales will reach a peak between 1pm and 2pm as thousands of workers log-on at lunchtime to buy goods to the tune of £14m.
According to IMRG, which has been monitoring and analysing UK e-retail sales for the past six years, Monday is always the biggest online shopping day of the week.
Furthermore, the internet sales peak is being pulled forward each year as the popularity of shopping from the comfort of your home or desk increases, the analysts say.
It follows that with more people relying on the internet to purchase Christmas gifts, shoppers are logging on earlier to ensure goods are in stock and delivered in time for Christmas.
In addition, IMRG claims that almost two thirds of UK households are connected to the internet and an increasing number of people are shopping outside the confines of traditional retailers’ hours.
James Roper, chief executive officer at IMRG, said: “Monday 4 December will be the biggest e-sales day of 2006, and it is interesting to note that more than a third of online shopping takes place either before or after traditional shopping hours.
“In the evening peak today, we estimate that online sales will be worth £11.7m per hour.”
© Crimson Business Ltd. 2006
