Christmas is just around the corner; yes it is here again and people in the U.K are forecast to spend more than ever before through online retailers. Is your web site ready to take advantage of the yearly surge in customers that the holiday season provides. There are so many things that you can do as an e-commerce provider to go above and beyond your competition. Last Christmas saw a steep rise in online shopping within the U.K, and the next couple of months are the perfect time to get ready for the Christmas rush.

Making your web pages relevant for people who are searching for gifts is a great way to attract Christmas shoppers. By including specialised search functions in your web page you can make it easier for your customers to find the gift that they are looking for. Shopping for gifts can be difficult, and if the design of your page allows a search by either category or by price then your customers will be able to shop for their loved ones with much more ease. Special Christmas gift cards and voucher codes also work really well in the U.K and are a great way to make your customers feel like they are getting a great deal.

By making a special Christmas inspired design for your web site you can also get your customers caught up in the Christmas cheer. Whether it is a simple illustration or a full new Christmas inspired template, there is nothing wrong with reminding your customers that Christmas is almost here. Personal touches like gift wrapping and discounts on shipping can also help you during the holiday season. Your delivery information page is really important as a recent study has shown that one in five sales are abandoned by potential customers due to lack of relevant delivery information.

There has been a huge up take of high speed Internet connections within the U.K, and this is driving a sharp rise in online sales. The U.K is forecast to account for at least 40% of all European online retail sales in 2008, what does this market mean to you as an online retailer. With both the number of customers and the amount they are spending rising in the U.K, the little things that you do now to optimise your site for Christmas could have a big effect on your sales and on your profits.

Online travel insurance company Insure and Go, has run away with two prizes at the Fast Growth Business Awards. The business won the overall T-Mobile sponsored Fast Growth Business of the Year, as well as the Online Business of the year. Other notable online businesses and entrepreneurs to walk away with awards included website entrepreneur Margaret Manning, film website Lovefilm and Go Compare.

Launched in 2000, Insure and Go were the first company to offer an alternative to the travel insurance provided by travel agencies. The company enables customers to obtain competitive rates by simply answering three questions online. The convenience of this service has made Insure and Go hugely popular, particularly amongst the increasing numbers of independent travellers and the business has grown and continues to grow at a phenomenal rate – with a turnover today of more than £49m and a customer base of 2 million.

The 12 Award Judges included Seb Bishop, President of MIVA, Peter Jones

Entrepreneur and Dragons Den entrepreneur, Nick Wheeler, founder of Charles Tyrwhit, René Carayol, business guru and TV presenter, and Simon Kossoff, MD, of Carluccios.

source