Tag Archives: online shopping

London Gets Ready For First Ever Men’s Fashion Week(end).

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London is set to host the UK’s first ever Men’s Fashion Week(end). Also known as Men’s Collections, these three days will celebrate the rise in the profile, creativity and commercial success of men’s fashion in the UK. And nowhere is this more apparent than online.

The UK’s leading fashion site ShopStyle.co.uk is used to dealing with over one million users searching for the latest designer womenswear pieces or high street must-haves but the UK online fashion leader has seen a 300% year-on-year increase in sales generated for its top 5 menswear retailers, revealing that it’s not just women who are keen to be seen in the latest looks.

Leading the charge for ShopStyle are men’s brands like Topman and Mr Porter but the fashion shopping hub has also seen a number of new retailers such as Pretty Green entering the online race, as well as unisex brands such as Ted Baker, Next and My-Wardrobe.

The company believes the uplift is driven by the increase in mobile devices and shopping apps which enable men to shop on the go or pick-up an item they may have seen on the street or in a shop window, quickly and easily via their mobile phone. ShopStyle has seen 3x increase in mobile driven searches in the same May to May period and believes that men drive a substantial percentage of these searches.

Shannon Edwards, VP for ShopStyle Europe believes that new technologies are driving men online to shop for fashion. She says: “There’s been a real focus in the UK on improving men’s fashion and that has tempted many style-aware blokes to come out of the woodwork. But for these guys the prospect of spending Saturday afternoon in the changing room leaves them cold. For them, mobile allows them to shop for the big looks without having to spend hours at their computer or in the store.”

MAJORITY OF WOMEN LIE TO THEIR PARTNERS OVER SPENDING

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MAJORITY OF WOMEN LIE TO THEIR PARTNERS OVER SPENDING ON CLOTHES

Two thirds of women regularly fib to partner about real cost of new clothing

Survey by online fashion retailer Lovarni.com also finds one in 10 women keeps every new fashion purchase secret

The majority of women lie to their partners about the amount of money they spend on clothes, a new survey reveals.

Two-thirds admit they “usually always” tell a porkie about the real cost of a new dress, top or pair of shoes.

Most argue that a “little white lie” or a “harmless fib” is better than telling the truth — and starting an argument.

Incredibly, almost 10 per cent rely on their partner’s lack of observation and keep EVERY new clothes purchase a secret.

They only ever come clean if they are caught out by bank statements or hard-to-hide delivery parcels.

The figures were released yesterday by online fashion store www.Lovarni.com, which surveyed 1,000 of its female shoppers.

A spokesman for the site said women are spending up to 50 per cent more online than what they do on the High Street because there is a less of a tell-tale paper trail.

She said: “It’s clear from our research that men are totally clueless about the amount of money their wives or girlfriends are spending on new clothes.

“Our figures show that most female shoppers usually always lie, or tell porkie-pies, about the actual cost of new purchases.

“Indeed, a small number keep every new purchase a secret and almost all only spill the beans if they are forced to do so.

“The upshot of all of this is that between eight and 12 per cent of women admit spending one and a half times as much online as on the High Street – primarily to prevent arguments, but also because they are less likely to get caught.”

According to a recent survey by ecommerce company WorldPay, the average British women spends £315 online on fashion and clothing per year.

Shoes are the most popular fashion and clothing item bought online, with almost 50 per cent of women having purchased a pair in the last year, while the most money is spent on handbags — an average of £187.

The new poll of 18-40 year-olds found that 62 per cent of women in relationships feel guilty or embarrassed about the cost of their wardrobe, and find it easier to lie than to justify their spend.

Virtually all (78 per cent) believe it is better to tell a white lie than risk a row, while a tenth said “complete secrecy” was safer-still.

According to Lovarni.com, a small proportion of women are spending more online than on the High Street because hiding numerous bags can be “very, very difficult”.

“Put simply, online shopping allows consumers to purchase their guilty pleasures without worrying about hauling bags around town,” a spokesman for said.

“It’s also easier to arrange deliveries when he’s out of the house, and saves having to hide lots of shopping bags.”

Shoppers to return to the web on Christmas Day

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No rest for the thrifty – Shoppers to return to the web on Christmas Day

Although much of the country will have a day off from work on Christmas Day, there will be no recess when it comes to shopping online. It is predicted that £186 million will be spent online on Christmas Day, followed by another £367.8 million on Boxing Day as shoppers look to be among the first to snatch the best bargains in the sales.

Ellen Flood, independent shopping expert from Shopow, said, “Budgets have been tight for shoppers this year and so retailers have responded by rolling out rock bottom prices online and on the high street. But now they have bought presents for friends and family, many will be returning to the online stores at the earliest opportunity to get something special for themselves without breaking the bank.

“There are many discounted items being introduced immediately after Christmas and therefore plenty of bargains to be had. The danger is that shoppers could become desensitised by the idea of lowered prices and may not see the attraction as vividly as previous years. Those stores that did hold their nerve and their prices in the run up to Christmas have their last throw of the dice for this year if they are to recoup earlier losses.”

Let Santa Know What You Are 'Whishin' For.

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A website which believes it has solved the annual problem of being given unwanted Christmas presents has launched in the run-up to this year’s festive season. The site launches on a day which has been dubbed ‘Mega Monday’, one of the busiest online shopping days of the year as shoppers receive their final pay packet before the festive season.

whishin.com, the brainchild of founder Charlie Rowan, will allow customers to create wish lists of gifts from across the web in one easy to use place, and share them with groups of family and friends, or even for people who think they deserve a bonus – their boss.

A simple downloadable tool which sits in the bookmark bar of a user’s internet browser makes it simple to save information, including the web-link and an image, about any item on any website. From there, customers can build lists and invite friends and family to share the details.

“We’ve finally put an end to the days of reindeer emblazoned jumpers,” said Rowan. “Now everyone in your family can have access to what you actually want this year. Christmas has always meant endless lists which either get lost or get you confused. With whishin there is no more forgetting where you saw that special gift, or cutting and pasting the web link and sending to loved ones. By using the whishin.com bookmarking tool you can now store all the details in one place at a touch of a button and share with friends and family to leave a few heavy hints! Children can even make a special list for Santa.”

The social aspect of whishin.com will see customers connect with friends and create lists or events together, as Rowan explained.

“Make a list of gifts you and your brother can buy your Dad; ask your sister’s advice about the earrings you like for your wife; or plan that short holiday with your mates over New Year. whishin.com allows you to do all this, to chat and comment on items, to make joint decisions or get opinions from the people you trust”.

The tool can be found at www.whishin.com. Go onto the website, sign up (it’s free) and download the whishin.com bookmarking tool by following three easy steps. Create your own list on the whishin website, and then start browsing and adding items.

Higher Online Fraud Risk at Christmas

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RESEARCH SHOWS THAT CHRISTMAS SHOPPERS FACE HIGHER ONLINE FRAUD RISK

– Xmas shoppers set to spend 14% more online this year¹

– Only 8% of women aged 26 to 35 update anti-virus software²

– Be Card Smart Online advice can help every Christmas shopper stay safe online

In the lead-up to Christmas, The UK Cards Association is running its successful Be Card Smart Online campaign again. The focus this year is on younger female shoppers, as research shows they are at greater risk of online fraud as many of them are failing to take simple steps to stay safe when they shop over the internet.

Banking industry initiatives coupled with cardholders being more aware of fraud prevention measures have resulted in a 40 per cent drop in card fraud losses in the past couple of years, down from £609.9 million in 2008 to £365.4 million last year.

However, research from the National Fraud Authority (NFA) has revealed that only 8 per cent of women aged 26-35 protect their computers with up-to-date anti-virus software. In response, the Be Card Smart Online campaign is urging young women in particular to follow the simple checklist below to reduce their chances of being a fraud victim this Christmas.

More than 35 million of us shopped online in the past year – 52 per cent up on the 23 million who shopped online just six years ago. And figures from the Interactive Media in Retail Group (IMRG) forecast that UK shoppers are set to spend £7.75 billion online between 28 November and 31 December, an increase of 14 per cent from the £6.8 billion spent online last Christmas.

As part of the campaign these top tips will be featured online at selected shopping websites until the end of December and also at www.becardsmart.org.uk:

1 Keep your PC protected by installing up-to-date anti-virus software. Ensure your browser is set at its highest level of security notification and monitoring – the safety options are not always activated by

default. Turn on ‘automatic updates’ when asked. This will allow you to decide when and how updates are installed.

2 Look for the padlock symbol – especially if you’re buying from a website for the first time. It’s a good indication that the online retailer is reputable.

3 Register your cards with Verified by Visa, MasterCard SecureCode or American Express SafeKey when prompted. It is quick and easy and makes shopping online even safer.

4 Always log out after shopping online and save the confirmation e-mail as a record of your order.

The UK’s banking and retail industries are fully supportive of the Be Card Smart Online campaign. Katy Worobec, Head of Fraud Control for The UK Cards Association, says:

“Christmas should be a time for taking things easy, but unfortunately fraudsters don’t stop targeting our cards over the festive period. This is why we are urging anyone who is planning to shop online this Christmas not to be complacent about security. You are your own best front-line of defence and following Be Card Smart Online’s simple steps can help prevent you becoming another fraud statistic.”

In addition, shoppers can make sure that gift buying online is stress-free by doing the following:

· Be sure you know who you are dealing with – always access the website you are planning to buy from by typing the address into your web browser.

· Ensure you are the only person that knows your PIN – never share it with anyone, either in person, over the telephone or in an email.

· Trust your instincts – if an offer looks too good to believe then there is usually a catch. Be suspicious of prices that are too good to be true.

· Keep records – keep details of your order and the retailer’s terms and conditions, returns policy, delivery conditions, postal address (not a post office box) and phone number (not a mobile number). Having this information will help if you subsequently encounter difficulties with your order. Keep your receipts and check these against your statement. If you spot a transaction you did not authorise tell your card company immediately.

· Section 75 protection – if you are buying something between £100 and £30,000 consider using a credit card, as you will then have extra protection through Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. This covers you whether the online retailer is based in the UK or abroad. Section 75 states that should a problem subsequently arise, such as the company going out of business, you can claim your money back from your credit card company.

· Fraud protection – If you are an innocent victim of any type of card fraud you will not suffer any financial loss.

Anyone who is unfortunate enough to be the victim of card fraud should report the incident first to their card company and then to Action Fraud at www.actionfraud.org.uk.

More information about shopping safely online is available at www.becardsmart.org.uk.

¹ source: Interactive Media in Retail Group (IMRG) Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index

² source: research commissioned by the National Fraud Authority (NFA)

T’WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS…AND OVER TWO THIRDS OF BRITS WERE STILL SHOPPING

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Despite best intentions, 68% of Brits still search for gifts on Christmas Eve

· Brits set to waste £2 billion[1] on panic-bought gifts this Christmas

· A nation of last-minute Christmas shoppers – over three quarters (76%) of us panic-buy the night before Christmas to ensure stockings are filled

· Half (50%) of shoppers have deliberately bought something overly expensive or extravagant in a moment of panic

· Panic-buy Britain: 32% have bought on a whim because they couldn’t find what they are looking for and 32% because they unexpectedly received a present and felt obliged to return the gesture

· Almost half (48%) of consumers admit to avoiding the panic by recycling an unwanted gift they’ve already received

· Christmas shoppers urged to use InvisibleHand (www.getinvisiblehand.com) to grab the best festive bargains.

Ever woken up realising you’ve forgotten that all-important present the morning before Christmas Day? Well you’re not alone. According to new research[2] from InvisibleHand, the free online shopping tool, over two thirds of UK shoppers (68%) also end up buying last minute gifts from the shops on Christmas Eve, while over three quarters (76%) of us end up panic-buying to ensure Santa’s quota is met.

In fact, panic buying last year led to half (50%) of consumers deliberately purchasing something overly expensive or extravagant. Going by last year’s overspend, Brits could be set to waste a whopping £2 billion on last-minute, panic-bought gifts this year[1].

Not being able to find the ‘right’ gift (32%) and being unexpectedly given a present and having to return the gesture (32%) are among the main reasons why people end up panic-buying. However, consumers also put pressure on themselves with over a quarter (26%) leaving it until the last minute because they can’t actually decide whether to buy someone a gift or not. A forgetful 18% end up in a flap because they simply forget to buy a gift.

As a result of the panic, consumers cut corners with three in ten (31%) buying something the wrong size so that the recipient could return it after Christmas. Men are particularly bad at adopting this cunning ploy – 38% use this tactic. Two in ten people (19%) even buy something that they know the recipient won’t like. Again, men lead the way with 24% having used this ruse.

People even resort to ‘re-gifting’ – almost half (48%) admit to re-cycling an unwanted gift they’d already received. What’s more, women seem to be the best at this with almost half (48%) having recycled unwanted gifts in the past, compared to just 30% of men.

Robin Landy, founder of InvisibleHand, says: “As the carol goes: ‘‘tis the season to be jolly’, but for most of us the weeks leading up to the big day are often another story altogether. This is especially the case if you’ve left your Christmas shopping to the last minute. This often leads to panic-buying and consumers making extremely poor purchasing decisions, often forking out far more than necessary as a result.

“Purchasing Christmas gifts under pressure could see a staggering £2 billion wasted on panic–bought items this year alone. This is astonishing and could be easily avoided by shopping online. The key thing is for consumers to shop around to make sure they find the best prices available to avoid paying vast amounts. There are some great deals to be found by savvy shoppers looking to track down a Christmas bargain.”

InvisibleHand’s top five tips for online Christmas shopping:

§ Search online to make sure you have the best price available to avoid spending more than you need to

§ Ensure you read the terms and conditions regarding postage and packaging to avoid any unnecessary costs

§ Be sure to read up on delivery times to ensure gifts arrive in good time

§ Take advantage of discount vouchers on offer by searching online and entering a promotional code before clicking the ‘buy’ button

§ Check whether the retailer offers a gift-wrapping service, which could save you time in the long run.