UK consumers will spend �186m online on Christmas Day, a retail group forecasts, with the Boxing Day spend expected to be in excess of �365m
It has traditionally been a day when most people do little more wolfing down Christmas lunch before blobbing out on the sofa to watch the Queen's speech or a TV special.
But this year it is predicted that Christmas Day will see record numbers of people go online for a bit of retail therapy and to bag a bargain in the sales.
The e-retailing group Interactive Media in Retail Group (IMRG) forecasts that UK consumers will spend �186.4m online on Christmas Day, with the Boxing Day spend expected to be almost double at �367.8m. Despite the impact of the recession, these figures represent a 12% increase on 2010.
Similarly, price comparison website Kelkoo said that overall, high street spending would drop 2.1% over Christmas, while online spending would increase by 16.4%.
Many online retailers begin promoting their post-Christmas sales online during the festive break, as savvy consumers ? and those with vouchers burning a hole in their pocket ? log on in anticipation of Boxing Day deals and other special offers.
David J. Smith, chief marketing and communications officer at IMRG, said: "The amount of money consumers spend online every Christmas Day is continuing to show double-digit growth. When you consider that the growth for the same day in 2010 was 26%, the increase is all the more impressive as it is coming from a very high base.
"Although shopping on Christmas Day might not appear to quite be in the Christmas spirit, it is worth considering that many of these sales could actually be associated with popular gifts people have received, such as downloadable content for MP3 players and Kindles."
Last year, 1.4 million people browsed the Argos website on Christmas Day, leading to 73,000 orders being placed. And the busiest time was in the evening ? between 21.00 and 22.00 ? when more than 100,000 people visited the site.
The most popular items were TV, audio equipment, laptops and gaming items, but customers also snapped up domestic appliances such as kettles, fryers, slow cookers, toasters and vacuum cleaners. Argos said Christmas lights also sell well on Christmas day.
This year, Argos' "January sale" begins at midnight on Christmas Eve. Ross Clemmow, director of marketing operations at Argos, said: "On Christmas Day, when the presents have all been opened and the turkey has been eaten, many of our customers' thoughts turn to shopping and the great deals that can be had.
"For some it's about buying practical items for the year ahead ? many have received vouchers or money they're keen to spend, while others choose to prepare for the following Christmas well in advance by securing bargains on decorations and lights."
Asda is starting its Boxing Day sale early with hundreds of bargains going on sale from 23 December online and in-store. It is offering up to 50% off big-brand white goods and electronics.
Among the more unusual items bought on Amazon last Christmas Day were ladies' padded pants (at �23) and the world's largest Swiss Army knife, a snip at �484.
But old habits die hard, and an estimated 5.6 million drivers are predicted to hit the roads on Boxing Day in the hope of bagging post-Christmas bargains, according to new figures from insurance company Green Flag Breakdown.
It said Boxing Day traffic would peak mid-morning as bargain hunters on average plan to set out around 10.30am. However, an energetic 13% will be taking the early bird approach and hitting the shops between 5am and 9am.
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2011/dec/22/record-online-shopping-numbers-christmas-day
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