Survey: online retailing alive and kicking

In a new survey of 1,000 active online users by @plan, 41% of the respondents said they have no concerns about giving their credit card information over the Internet. That number, which has about doubled from last year, could predict a very good holiday season for online retailers, says @plan. Moreover, the study found that 84% of online shoppers expect this year to purchase as many as or more than the number of gifts they purchased online last year. "A major impediment to online retailing growth, was consumer reluctance to use their credit cards online," said Mark Wright, CEO of @plan. "We are witnessing a dramatic lowering of the barrier to the growth of e-commerce." The study also found that even the recent downsizing of dot-coms hasn't scared off this year's perspective online shoppers. According to the survey, among those aware of some e-commerce web sites shutting down, more than 75% said this had no effect on their decision to purchase holiday gifts over the Internet this year.