Etailers are gearing up for Mega Monday, the busiest online shopping day of the year. Trade body IMRG expects year-on-year sales to increase 16% that day.
Last year shoppers spent £350m on Mega Monday, which will this year fall on December 6, according to IMRG forecasts. The peak in sales is linked to workers receiving their last pay cheque before Christmas.
Retailers including Asos, eBay, Play.com and Argos are launching promotions to kick-start sales. Entertainment etailer Play.com is offering deals of up to 70% off and forecasts more than 1,200 orders will be placed per minute during its peak period. The etailer expects its sales will be up 20% on last year.
Play.com chief executive Stuart Rowe said: “We are launching deals to ensure we are price competitive. In our sector, especially, people gravitate towards value.”
Fashion etailer Asos has revealed that “a few special activities are planned” around the day, although it would not be drawn on details.
Argos is launching a Mega Monday voucher during the peak week of November 29 to December 6.
Amazon UK would not confirm if it was planning any specific promotions on Mega Monday,
but did begin its offers earlier this year with its first Black Friday event, that ran between November 22 and November 26. The promotion was based on the American discounting frenzy that follows Thanksgiving.
IMRG chief executive James Roper said: “Nervousness about the Government’s spending cuts is likely to impact high street spend this Christmas, with a third of people saying that they plan to spend less than they did last year. Despite this, it is a far rosier picture for online retailers that look set to do well this festive period.”
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