: How web shopping will upstage church and party games
By Sean Poulter, Consumer Affairs Editor
Last updated at 4:54 AM on 23rd December 2010
Online: More money is expected to be spent on Christmas Day than ever before
Twas the night before Christmas, and not a creature was stirring – except the computer mouse.
For this year, going to church, enjoying party games, watching films or the Queen’s Speech are all likely to be upstaged as families gather around computers to snap up online bargains.
In a trend dubbed ‘Clickmas’, a record £153million is tipped to be spent online on Christmas Day, with high street retailers starting their January sales as the clock ticks past midnight on Christmas morning.
Five million online purchases are predicted on the day, and 9.3million worth £300million on Boxing Day – taking the total for the two days to an all-time high of more than £450million.
The boom comes as families are increasingly giving download tokens to loved ones as gifts, allowing purchases of music, films and books from the web. Last year, Apple’s iTunes store had its biggest day of the year on Christmas Day – up 800 per cent on the day before.
The arrival of the iPad and other tablet computers, and success of eBook readers such as Kindle, is pushing demand for downloads to record heights.
The band Gorillaz are tapping into the trend, timing the release of their album for December 25.
The rise in VAT to 20 per cent on January 4 is also driving the online sales boom.
Meanwhile today is predicted to be the busiest day of the year on the high street, as families stock up on turkey, trimmings and drinks.
iPad power: Tablet computers are expected to help push up the amount people spend on 'Clickmas Day'
SCOTLAND, A NATION OF GIVERS
As we all know, it is the thought that counts. But as you’re unwrapping gifts on Christmas Day, you should probably be more hopeful about a present from an aunt in Scotland than one from a niece in Yorkshire.
According to a survey, those from north of the border are the most generous, while people from the county known for its frugality are among those spending the least.
The average Briton spends a total of £260 on all their gifts, but the figure varies widely depending on where they live, says website Quidco.com.
The least generous are from the East of England or Yorkshire, who spend on average £230 and £236 respectively. At the opposite end of the scale are the Scots, who splash out £315 each, followed by the Welsh at £281.
Londoners spend £243 each, while in the West Midlands it is £279, in the North East £278, South West £247, and North West £277.
Millions are also still hunting down presents they have been unable to buy due to the extreme weather.
Store takings are tipped to be double a normal Saturday, while one supermarket estimates that 5.15pm will be the single busiest time at the nation’s tills.
The snow has meant a disastrous December for stores across the country, which have launched panic sales with savings of up to 75 per cent in the hope of shifting Christmas stock.
Exclusive figures compiled for the Mail show shopper numbers in Cardiff were down 45 per cent on Saturday to Monday evening compared with the same period last year.
The figures, from retail analysts Synovate, reveal a fall of almost 30 per cent in Birmingham and 20 per cent in Bristol.
In London, Manchester, Brighton and Newcastle, numbers were down by almost 10 per cent.
Synovate’s Tim Denison said: ‘Retailers thought their greatest challenge would come from competitive promotions, not the elements.’
Internet retailer trade body IMRG said the Christmas Day sales total would be up by £21 million on last year. Among those starting web sales on Christmas Day are Selfridges, Argos, Debenhams, Marks & Spencer, House of Fraser, Currys, Comet and the major supermarkets.
Simon James, of moneysupermarket.com, said: ‘A unique combination of a challenging year of trading for many retailers is leading to record discounts and frenzied buying.’
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