According to Verdict consumers spent £1.7 billion just on clothing and footwear online last year. This figure, they predict, will rise to £6 billion by 2012.

In spite of being bombarded by these kinds of messages small traders continue to turn their backs on this easy additional revenue.

While high street footfall is declining the online scene continues to flourish. A survey by software company Actinic has shown that 90% of transactional web sites are profitable.

If you take rent and rates, fixtures and fittings and in-store security out of the calculation the cost of running an online business is going to be far less than that of running a bricks and mortar shop. And while it is often a good idea to have both there is a real threat to high street traders from virtual or ‘e-tailers’ who can sell at cheaper prices because their costs are massively reduced.

Any retailer who is not trading online should be asking some very searching questions and perhaps engaging an expert (Busiiness Link Sussex should be a first port of call for free business advice including IT development) to advise on the pros and cons.