Christmas comes early for e-tailers

Jingle bells are ringing early for online retailers this season.

A study of consumers' intended spending habits found that 31 per cent of US consumers are planning to spend more online this year, and that 45 per cent plan to do a higher percentage of their shopping online than last year.

According to the 2003 eHoliday Mood Study, a survey conducted by online resellers' association Shop.org with BizRate.com, almost 70 per cent of online retailers are optimistic about this year's holiday season, up from 60 per cent in last year's research.

The optimism appears to be well-founded, with 62 per cent of online retailers experiencing revenues more than 25 per cent up on this time last year.

Almost a quarter of retailers were found to have enjoyed more than 80 per cent year-on-year growth.

Scott Silverman, executive director of Shop.org, said: "Many retailers now have four, five or several online holiday seasons under their belts and they've become very skilled at attracting customers and delivering great shopping experiences to them.

"Based on the numbers we're seeing so far, online retailers have plenty of reasons to be optimistic so early in the holiday season."