Partner Article

Online traders urged to box clever this Christmas

EXPERTS are urging high street retailers not to risk having a poor website this Christmas.

Last year, many retailers saw a decrease in footfall of up to 26% as snow started to create disruption in the build-up to Christmas.

There are concerns that snowfall is likely to leave the high street out in the cold again during one of the busiest periods of Christmas shopping.

Despite this, online shopping has continued to flourish with customer-friendly websites benefiting the most from consumers staying indoors.

Simon Crisp, Director of www.shopsafe.co.uk, said: “People have stopped travelling where it is not vital, so online retailers are where the money is going as people can’t get to the shops.

“We are hearing of an even bigger than normal increase in e-tail traffic during this period, boosted by the snow, but if a website is not up to scratch then customers will move on to another retailer because there is so much choice out there.”

Mr Crisp warned that if a consumer can’t get to their favorite store and finds their online service dissatisfying then they will find alternatives traders.

Simon Crisp added: “People are being reassured by those websites which are keeping visitors updated, for example Amazon and others are advising that deliveries, although slightly delayed in some areas of the country, are still getting through.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .