Shop Direct Group claims that online retail has helped boost its sales.

The ease of online retail has been cited as one of the reasons for one firm's increased sales over the Christmas period.

Shop Direct Group, which owns brands such as Woolworths.co.uk and Littlewoods, saw sales rise by 6.3 per cent for the six weeks up to January 1st, with online sales jumping by nearly a fifth on last year's figure.

Mark Newton-Jones, group chief executive, said the convenience of online retail allowed people to better organise their shopping.

"We believe that the ease of shopping online allows customers to manage their shopping time more effectively, planning earlier and shopping later," he added.

Online sales accounted for 65 per cent of all sales, a rise of nine per cent on the previous year's figure.

Ocado also saw increased sales over the festive period, with the online supermarket reporting a 30 per cent rise to £40.8 million in the four weeks up to Boxing Day.

Posted by Mark Moore



Article Added: 06/01/2010 09:33:58