Shopping online? Tell the boss you're multitasking

By Jim DeBrosse (Staff Writer)
November 26, 2006

One survey shows 61 million Americans will likely buy a gift using their office computers.

Limber up those clicking fingers. Tomorrow is Cyber Monday — one of the biggest online shopping days of the year as the countdown to Christmas begins, e-Commerce experts say.

But if the in-store holiday rush started Friday, why aren't we seeing Cyber Saturday or Cyber Sunday? Because, as Santa knows, naughty consumers wait until they return to work to do their online Christmas shopping — on company time.

In fact, 61 million Americans are expected to purchase holiday gifts from their office computers this year, up from 51.7 million people last year, according to a recent Shop.org survey conducted by BIGresearch.

Psssst. While the boss isn't looking, check out www.CyberMonday.com. You'll find nearly 400 online retailers that have posted holiday promotions and special savings starting Monday through the holiday season.

Consumer electronics will remain the dominant category for online shopping this year — with iPods, shoot-em-up video games and digital cameras and video recorders at the top of the list, said Sarath Samarasekera, chief executive of Shopster.com, a Web service that powers more than 1,500 e-stores across the United States and Canada.

But e-stores are beginning to see more diversified purchases for clothing, dishware and other items that indicate a growing number of women are shopping online, thanks to improved Internet technology that allows 360-degree views and close-ups of fabrics and fibers, he said. "Things that customers traditionally want first-hand experience with, they are now buying online."

According to the annual Atlas Holiday Shopping report, Monday's online shopping spree will be topped only by Dec. 13, the last day most shippers will guarantee delivery in time for Christmas.