online shopping - Internet Marketing News and Blogs

While the effects of the worsening economic climate will reduce overall consumer spending, e-commerce looks to be in a good position to weather the storm, according to a new survey.

While 64% of respondents said that the economic climate would force them to reduce their overall spending, 56% said that they would continue to shop online as much as they are already, while some will even spend more.

Evidence suggests that as more people are feeling the pinch of higher fuel and household bills, they are seeking savings online. 

Could greater use of e-commerce be a silver lining to the cloud of the Credit Crunch?

Britain’s bad weather helped etailers boost sales by 80% last month as more shoppers used the web rather than venture out into the rain.

The IMRG said internet sales increased to a record £4.2bn in July, up from £2.34bn in the same month last year.

A new report has looked into the performance of the top 28 UK retailers as measured by traffic, and has found much room for improvement.

The research, carried out by Marketing Assistance Ltd on behalf of Blast Radius, looked at the whole online shopping experience, from from first visit to returning unwanted items.

New research from the Royal Mail suggests that, for those employees who like to do their online shopping from work, Friday lunchtime is the most popular time.

Of those online shoppers who have internet access at work, 65% are likely to buy during the week - and Friday afternoon at 1pm is the most popular time for one in eight.

Foolproof's 2006 Online Shopping Survey into insurance predicts rapid growth in online purchasing of motor and home insurance policies, but points out that growth is hampered by poor usability.

The good news for online insurers is that consumers see the benefits of avoiding long phone calls for quotes and insuring online, but insurers are urged to make improvements, especially when it comes to usability.

Men who can’t be bothered to go out shopping are helping to drive rapid growth in online retailing, according to a survey by the British Council of Shopping Centres.

FT.com reports that men have a ‘hunter’ approach to shopping – they know what they want and want to get it as quickly and painlessly as possible. Online shopping is the perfect way for them to do this.

A new pay-as-you-go Visa voucher for online shopping has been released today, in an attempt to get more people shopping online.

Figures from the 3V Transaction Services ‘online shopper’ study reveal that around a fifth of people want to shop online but are reluctant to do so, and that over 9 million people in the UK are left behind by the online shopping boom.

Employment experts suggest that the cost to business of employees surfing the net for their Christmas shopping on company time could be £7 billion this year, although frankly this research is somewhat misleading.

The prediction comes from the Employment Law Advisory Service (ELAS), which advises employers to lay down rules for staff to minimise the risk of losing hours to internet shopping.

All things considered, this sounds a bit Orwellian for our liking. But first, let's look more at this ELAS research...

Auction website eBay has today launched the UK version of its new online shopping service, eBay Express. The site will sell both new and used goods at fixed prices. 

All of the sellers on the site have been signed up to a professional code of conduct by eBay, to ensure that they all offer returns policies and guaranteed delivery dates.

The company hopes that the site will attract those shoppers who prefer a more more conventional e-commerce shopping experience.