21ST CENTURY CHRISTMAS SHOPPING

According to data from the search research and recording company Hitwise, the group of the British population known as 'middle Britain' are turning to the internet to do their Christmas shopping. One such company, Express Gifts, is proving extremely popular for Christmas gifts.

According to the figures from Hitwise, of the 13.1 million people defined as Middle Britain, a third used the internet to search and buy toys, hobbies, tickets and health and beauty products.

So why is internet shopping becoming so popular?

One of the main benefits is obviously convenience and this is incredible important for money rich but time poor people. You can sit at your desk in your lunch hour and buy your children presents. The commute home can be used to find your partner a gift using mobile internet and in the evenings you can sit, laptop on lap, in front of the TV finding and buying gifts for the rest of the family.

You won't have to fight through lunch hour, late night, or weekend shopping queues allowing you to actually spend time with your family and loved ones. You needn't pay parking fees or layer up in coats and jumpers to fight the cold only to strip them all off inside overheated department stores.

You no longer need to feel confined to the same shops and department stores you always visit. In fact, you don't even need to settle for the bright lights of London, Birmingham or Manchester. Shopping online puts truth into the phase: the world is your oyster. You have access to markets across the globe, selling all manner of items at various prices.

You can pick up odd and quirky gifts for those hard to please relatives as well as discount versions of your friends' favourite fashions. Plus most of your favourite shops from the high street to designer boutiques will have online stores vying for your money.

But perhaps most importantly, you are also likely to spend a lot less. As mentioned above, most of your favourite stores have online versions that tend to offer exclusive online only sales. Because of the increased competition prices are forced downwards and seeing as online retailers, or 'etailers' as they are now known, have very low overheads many of their cost savings are passed on to you, the consumer.

Seeing as convenience combines with choice and lower prices, it is hardly any wonder why more and more people are choosing to do their shopping online.

NOTE: Ishy Knits is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.