Last year 25 per cent of all Christmas gifts were purchased online, it marked the first real year that shopping online reached a significant level for this time of year. Nearly £5 billion was spent in the ten weeks leading up to Christmas Day, a rise of 50% on the same period in 2004.

Two-thirds of all UK homes now have an internet connection, of which 8 million people use broadband and throughout the whole of 2005, 24 million consumers in the UK used the internet to purchase goods, with an average of over £800 per person being spent online.

The figures confirm beyond doubt that customers are now swapping shopping at traditional retail outlets for the ease and practicality of buying online, particularly at a hectic time of year like Christmas.

If you would like to explore the e-commerce options available to you, whether you are already selling online and need help developing your site, or you are interested in more information about how you could set your site up to sell goods online, please contact us on 0870 116 2420 or email ecommerce@uptonaway.co.uk - it isn't as expensive as you think.