Actinic Ecommerce Survey Reveals Another Happy eChristmas with More Customers, Spending More Money

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West Byfleet, Surrey - 2 January 2008 - An early poll done by retail specialist, Actinic, into Christmas trading results has found continued growth in shopping online. Respondents reported a 27% rise in the number of customers buying online at Christmas compared to the same period in 2006. They also reported an even greater increase in internet revenues at 46% – indicating that not only are more people shopping online, but they are spending more as well.

The poll also found ecommerce making a greater proportional contribution to the bottom line compared with other channels. Companies trading both online and offline, reported that on average, just over 50% of sales in November and December were made online, compared with only 30% in 2006.

According to Actinic CEO Chris Barling, the results show that growth in online spending remains remarkably buoyant. “Considering the effects of the US credit crunch, the Northern Rock crisis and the general overall decline in confidence, 46% is remarkable growth and continues the rise and rise of online retailing,” he says.

In all, over half of retailers who responded were very confident that online sales would continue to increase in 2008. Less than a quarter expressed the same level of confidence that conventional retail sales would grow.

Jason Beer of Quality Silver (www.qualitysilver.co.uk) is one retailer who is very certain of continuing acceleration into 2008. “The number of people purchasing online is growing faster than the number of internet retailers,” he believes. He also cites increased consumer confidence in online security as a reason for the sustained growth. “Two years ago, every other email we received was to do with security, or the customer needing assurances prior to ordering. Now people seem to think nothing of it. Confidence in the internet is very strong.”

34 retailers responded to Actinic’s survey.

Contacts:
Actinic: Bruce Townsend, marketing manager
Globe House, Lavender Pk Rd, W Byfleet, Surrey KT14 6ND
0845 129 4800, btownsend@actinic.co.uk

PR: Jane Lee, Dexterity, 01273 470199

About Actinic:
Founded in 1996, Actinic (www.actinic.co.uk) is a British company specialising in helping small and medium retailers trade, both online and offline, using its ecommerce and electronic point of sale (EPOS) packages.

Actinic offers ecommerce products for web designers and self-builders, including both web-based and desktop solutions. The range includes Actinic Enterprise, Actinic Business, Actinic Catalog, Actinic Express and Actinic Designer. Actinic powers more UK ecommerce sites than any other company. Research shows that over 50% of SMEs using packaged software to run their e-stores use Actinic. Some better known Actinic users include the Royal Opera House, Land of Leather, Lexmark and the Royal Navy.

Actinic EPOS systems give a comprehensive feature set that is straight forward to operate at great value prices. The range extends from a low cost, single till installation for the smaller store, to integrated multi-till and multi-site systems with head office functionality for centralised product, stock and price updating and reporting.

Actinic solutions can be implemented by the user, through a network of third party specialists, or by Actinic itself through its Business Services division.

Trademarks: Actinic, Actinic Catalog, Actinic Business and Actinic Designer are registered trademarks of Actinic Software Limited.

This release was published on openPR.