Dec 23, 2008
Brits are preparing to snap up a bargain on Christmas day. £20 per person is expected to be spent online this Christmas, according to the Interactive Media In Retail Group (IMRG).
The figures account for an estimated five million shoppers, who IMRG said would go online and spend £104 million during the festive period, while bricks and mortar retailers are left to lick their wounds, forced to close for the holidays.
This is in comparison to a total of £84 million spent online on Christmas Day 2007, as shoppers went online to grab bargains and spend vouchers given as gifts.
Last year’s spending was accompanied by a 44% in traffic from Christmas Eve to Christmas Day 2007 and IMRG is anticipating this trend to continue as more consumers turn to the internet for their shopping fix and take advantage of Christmas sales.
The year-on-year growth in sales value for December 2008 is expected to be at least 15% in line with the strong sales performances seen across the online industry and in contrast to declining visitor numbers on the High Street in the wake of the credit crunch and the run up to Christmas.
Stuart Rowe, Play.com's chief operation officer and IMRG member, said: “What’s different about this year is the huge growth we’ve seen in the week before Christmas as consumers have left their shopping to the last minute.”
And Robin Terrell, John Lewis Direct managing director said, for the first time ever, the department store’s online arm will be starting its online clearance on Christmas Eve.
Robin Goad, research director at Hitwise UK, said that Christmas Day and Boxing Day are becoming more important for online retailers every year. “Last year, for the first time ever, Boxing Day was the busiest day for online retailers,” he added. “Given the current hunger for bargains, it seems likely that both days will be even busier this year.”
Julia Hutton-Potts of eBay added: “Typically, 27 December sees the single biggest spike in consumer listings on eBay in the post-Christmas period.”
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