UK ecommerce sees strong Christmas sales

UK ecommerce sees strong Christmas sales

While high street retailers report difficult pre-Christmas sales, online retailers across the UK are reporting increased sales activity compared to 2004.

Roy Bendy of A1 Gifts (http://www.a1gifts.co.uk) is the director of a company based in Worthing, West Sussex, that sells gift items online. He says, "We are definitely busier than last year. Once people find how easy it is to find what you need without having to push through crowds, traffic jams, and bad weather, they tell their friends and the word spreads."

Chris Packer of Pakatak (http://www.pakatak.co.uk) runs a company based in Rayleigh in Essex, that sells home surveillance equipment. He reports increased sales this year, too. "So far we’re selling a lot more miniature spy cameras, which are given as novelty presents."

Paul Conway, of PMC Telecom (http://www.pmctelecom.co.uk) sells telephones and telephony equipment from his office in Manchester, and has been trading exclusively online since 1998. "It’s definitely one of the busiest years I’ve seen so far. Skype and VoIP equipment has been an especially popular." When asked why he thought sales were increasing, he replied, "As more people use the internet in their daily lives, I think they’ve realise that shopping online is very safe. Online ordering is very secure and long distance selling laws are very protective."

Although he doesn’t receive many returns, Paul said: "You absolutely have to make sure your customers are confident shopping at your website, and happy with their purchases."

It’s not just home consumers who are busy shopping - some businesses also seem to be splashing out at Christmas. Barry Fish, of A2B Office Technology Ltd in Bury (http://www.a2boffice.co.uk), sells office equipment to both domestic and business users. He says; "A lot more people are working from home, and office equipment such as fax machines and paper shredders seem to be especially common Christmas presents this year."

Overall, online merchants say that their increase in sales is due to a number of factors. "Ease of use and increased customer trust I think are key," said Roy Bendy.

Paul Conway adds, "Marketing opportunities have improved over the years. People can find what they want a lot easier on the internet. Shopping comparison sites such as Kelkoo and Froogle make it easy to compare different products and sellers quickly and easily."

So on Christmas day, if you open your presents and find a novelty gift, miniature spy camera, an internet telephone, or even a fax machine - you now know how easy it was to buy for you.

A unique Christmas message, live from Lapland…

A unique Christmas message, live from Lapland…

Coming up with original gift ideas for the kids gets more difficult with each Christmas that passes – or it did, until new website, LiveFromLapland.com came along.

LiveFromLapland are set to put the magic back into Christmas this year, with their innovative videogram service, which allows your kids (or even adults!) to receive a personalised video message from Santa.

"Everyone remembers the excitement of visiting Santa at the mall," said a spokesman for the company. "It’s an integral part of childhood, but sadly, it sometimes feels as if political correctness and busier lifestyles have taken some of the joy out of Christmas.

"LiveFromLapland aim to change all that by providing a unique treat which children will remember for the rest of their lives. What we offer is a professionally scripted mini-movie, filmed on location in Santa’s home, especially for you. They’re a truly original Christmas gift."

The videograms cost just $14.99 and are delivered via the web, with customer’s receiving an email with directions, plus a link to a "secret" website where they can view their completed video as often as they like, or download it and burn it to disc. All clients have to do is answer the questions on the "Santa Wizard", which gathers information such as the number of children the movie will feature, plus their names, ages, and other relevant details which can be included in the finished product.

"We’ve had excellent feedback so far from the movies we’ve already produced," commented LiveFromLapland’s spokesman. "Parents tell us their children are absolutely thrilled by the personalised message, and want to watch it again and again. We’re just really happy to be able to put some of the magic back into Christmas for them.

Visit LiveFromLapland at http://www.livefromlapland.com

Holiday stress is here! Want to know the 11 steps for stress management?

Holiday stress is here! Want to know the 11 steps for stress management?

Orlando, FL - Mike Angulo, a Life Coach, announced today that there are great ways for people to use their minds to manage stress during this holiday season. In his e-book, “Jack the Lizard”, Angulo explains in detail how to use 11 steps to handle adversity and stress. This book will allow anyone to find out how to create a stress-busting mindset for handling tough times, so that they can really enjoy the positive ones.

Jack, the book’s main character, falls into a hole with his two friends and figures out how to escape. He represents people who are experiencing any difficulty in life. His story teaches anyone, young and old, how to use the mind differently to find ways out of a problem and to see fear, not as an obstacle, but as a signal to take action. The full story is available for download at http://www.StressReliefCoaching.com

The "Stress Relief Coach" explains that people simply have to learn to use their minds more intelligently, focusing on the results they want instead of obsessing about the troubles they’re facing. “Jack the Lizard” shows exactly how to do just that.

Here are the first 3 of the 11 steps for Stress Management found in this simple but effective e-book:

1. Finding a vision and enough reasons to get motivated. This is done by imagining the desired results as clearly as possible and using all the senses to “trick” the mind into believing they are real.

2. Asking the mind how one can make the vision real. Questions like "how can I get through this" and "what resources do I have available to help me (people, knowledge, money, etc)?" will allow the mind to use its reticular activating system to come up with solutions, instead of focusing on the pain caused by the negative situation.

3. Relaxing the body and mind in order to get the best ideas. This is achieved by progressive relaxation techniques borrowed from Meditation, Visualization, Self Hypnosis and Ayurveda, the ancient Indian science of life.

Since the holidays are here, everyone will benefit from this wonderful story that serves as an antidote for the usual holiday stress. The complete e-book and remaining steps are available for download at http://www.StressReliefCoaching.com.