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Online retail list shows movers and shakers at xmas

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The IMRG-Hitwise Hot Shops List offers an insight into the websites gaining the most from the lead up to Christmas by revealing the top 50 UK e-retailers. The list this year sees a number of websites grow as we close on December 25th.

There are no surprises at the top of the chart with the UK's three biggest online retailers holding on to their dominance within the shopping scene: Amazon.co.uk, Argos and Play.com. The biggest mover shaking up the shopping cart is Apple advancing into the top ten and taking fourth position from Next, which has dropped to eighth.

With Marks & Spencer climbing one place and Amazon.com falling one, Tesco is the second brand in the top ten to feature twice with Tesco Direct nudging its way into tenth spot. Having just announced a record day of sales, their best for over 3 years, John Lewis is the other big name to find its way into the elite.

Here is the IMRG-Hitwise Hot Shops List - top ten:

1	Amazon UK	www.amazon.co.uk
2	Argos	www.argos.co.uk
3	Play.com	www.play.com
4	Apple Computer	www.apple.com
5	Marks & Spencers	www.marksandspencer.com
6	Amazon.com	www.amazon.com
7	Tesco	www.tesco.com
8	Next	www.next.co.uk
9	John Lewis	www.johnlewis.com
10	Tesco Direct	direct.tesco.com

A little higher up the list, there has been some serious advancement for GAME (22), Boots (28), Sainsbury's (29) and ASDA Direct - all of whom have been pushing the festive season, with special offers and reductions. Over the last quarter the list has seen no new entrants, suggesting that the UK's top online retail brands are consolidating their positions successfully.

Commentary from IMRG and Experian Hitwise and a summing up of the current online retail temperament can be found in our marketing news.

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As this is the last bulletin from the internet business news team for 2009, we hope that the year has brought success for you and your business and we look forward to delivering tech news to you in 2010.

Best regards,

The UKFast team