A Million Pounds a Minute

That's how much the retailers expect us to spend in the Boxing Day sales, they're throwing offers at us before we've even thrown out the turkey leftovers!

Some shops are giving up to 90% off, so take advantage, don't miss out - visit our January Sales page.

Mega Monday for online shopping

Monday 8th December, today, is predicted to be the busiest pre-Christmas online shopping day.

Here are some interesting facts:

• IMRG and Capgemini estimate that between October and December this year £13.16bn will be spent online.
• Last year's busiest minute online was 1:09pm on December 10 when UK shoppers spent an estimated £767,500
• The American equivalent to our Mega Monday is called Cyber Monday. It was 1st December in the USA
• Americans spent 15% more online this year than last year on Cyber Monday.
• Shoppers will spend more than £16,000 per second today
• Play.com are expecting 936 orders a minute today
• Last Monday Argos had 23% more people than last year log on to their website
• John Lewis are predicting 8th December to be their biggest day online

And then we do it all again - actually the biggest day of the year last year was Boxing Day.

Favourite Christmas Shop

It is really hard to pick a favourite Christmas shop.

But pick I must and this year it is definitely John Lewis for me.

This is why John Lewis makes it into my Christmas Cracker this year

• Free Delivery on everything
• Order right up to the last minute
• They have reduced the VAT and lowered their prices
• 25% on selected hampers
• iPod special offers ... and
• Great prices on Christmas Toys for the kids

Is this the end of the High Street?

I want to say first of all that I am so sad listening to the news about Woolworths tonight.

Not just because I remember buying my Pic n' Mix from there when I was 7. Or the fact that I bought my first vinyl single from Woolies (not telling which it was!) but because at a time of unprecedented fear it has heaped misery and worry on thousands of employees.

So the inevitable question was asked on the TV - is this the beginning of the end of the High Street?

The question seems to imply that online shopping has taken its place but Woolworths hasn't gone into administration because of the web.

Online sales account for 7% of all our shopping - a huge amount but no replacement. The High Street is just going to be different and retailers that thrive are ones that get the fact that there is room for bricks and clicks.

And the ones that really do well are like Argos.

So today my wife reserved a toy online, they texted me the collection number on my mobile. I turn up at the store, type in a few numbers, pay at a self-service kiosk, without waiting, and jump the queue to pick up the toy dog. 5 minutes and I am done. A quick and painless 5 minutes.

Now that's what I call shopping - online and on the highstreet.

Argos officially gets it. I bet they do just great this Christmas - and added to that Argos do Voucher codes.
Happy-20% off-Christmas!

Pre-Christmas Sales

This Christmas we've really got a season of goodwill - from the retailers.

Before the current economic downturn, sales before Christmas were unheard of. This year, if you're wise, you can stuff your stockings with Christmas bargains.

Today Marks and Spencer are giving 20% off all womenswear, menswear, kidswear, furniture, homeare, beauty, wine and champagne.

And that's not all Dorothy Perkins are also having a 20% off sale, and you can 25% off in Debemhams.

There are more shops with sales listed on Shopsafe. Happy Shopping!