A group of major retailers is supporting the inaugural National Internet Shopping Day, the first time chains have publicly lined up behind the new channel.
B&Q, Boots, Debenhams, Littlewoods, MFI, Marks & Spencer and Virgin will offer shoppers a range of discounts, competitions and offers on the Day, set for next Thursday.
The date, July 24, alludes to the 24/7 always-on capability of the Web, with a dedicated Web site at http://24x7.imrg.org set up to promote the event.
Visa, the Post Office, Barclaycard, American Express and BT are also backing the event, to be fronted by glamour model-turned-mother Melinda Messenger.
'Home shopping on the Internet is so easy and convenient. For busy young mums, it is a really sensible lifestyle decision,' she said.
Mothers are a key target group in the 4 million Internet virgins the 24/7 campaign is seeking to convert.
Internet umbrella body IMRG, which helped set up the event, estimates that 12 to 14 million adults have shopped online, while a further 18 million with Internet access have yet to take the plunge.
Despite an avalanche of bad news around collapsing pure-play e-tailers since 2000, the Internet has quietly gone on to become the second-largest retail channel in less than 10 years, overtaking mail order's 4 per cent share over the past year.
IMRG estimates sales are doubling every six months and are set to reach£15 billion, or 7 per cent of total retail sales, by the end of 2003.
- Leader: page 11.
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