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.
