DIYWEEK.net

British consumers will spend freely this Christmas, and practical presents will still top festive shopping lists.
That's according to a new survey of high street retailers by Barclays, which found that 55% expect spending to be up on last year. Two thirds of retailers surveyed believe practical presents will be the order of the day while only a third think shoppers will spend on more frivolous and novelty gifts as they remain watchful of the wider economic climate.

The survey also found that 55% of retailers are expecting sales made using mobile devices and tablets to rise rapidly as shoppers continue to migrate towards digital devices. As a result, click-and-collect will also increase in popularity - up by well over a third compared with last year - helping consumers and retailers overcome the tricky last mile of delivery.

Digital gizmos and gadgets mean that trading won't stop when the shops close on Christmas Eve either. Nearly 65% of retailers surveyed believe online traffic will rise by at least 11% on Christmas Day, compared with last year. The first surge of online activity will be shortly after Christmas dinner, between 3pm and 4pm, before it peaks between 8pm and 10pm on Christmas night.

How to get the Christmas shopping - particularly presents bought online - to consumers' doors remains the biggest headache for retailers, closely followed by concerns over whether websites will cope with the anticipated increase in festive traffic. The weather, which caused such disruption to Christmas trade two years ago, is mentioned by around a third.

Websites will be under no greater pressure than on Mega Monday, traditionally the busiest online shopping day of the year, which this year is expected to be December 2.

When it comes to what will be wrapped up under the Christmas tree, mobile devices, techie gadget, beauty products and clothing are predicted to top the list.