Workers nab Christmas bargains online at lunchtime

Office workers are taking time out to do their Christmas shopping from their desks, with many using their lunch breaks to buy online.

Online marketers who don't pay special attention to the timing of campaigns are missing a trick - particularly in the lead up to Christmas.

-- Joe Davis, president and CEO, Coremetrics

Online retail sites are reporting 42 per cent more activity and 32 per cent more purchasing visits on weekdays than on the weekend, with the majority of weekday visits and purchases occurring during office hours.

More than half (54 per cent) of visits occur between 08:00 and 18:00, and only 28 per cent happen between 18:00 and midnight. Hits and purchasing visits for leading online retailers peak between 13:00 and 14:00.

Web analytics company Coremetrics, which collected the data from 175 retail sites, said lunchtime promotions could make a huge difference to sales.

According to a BBC report, many online retailers expect 12 December to be the busiest shopping day.

Coremetrics president and CEO, Joe Davis, said in a statement: "Online marketers who don't pay special attention to the timing of campaigns are missing a trick - particularly in the lead up to Christmas.

"For example, if a marketing email arrives whilst you're surfing the net, chances are you will click through as you are in buying mode."