“Ecommerce will buck retail trends,” said David J Smith of the IMRG at a conference earlier in the year, “and continue to grow. When the going gets tough, consumers go online.” That’s pretty much why we’re so excited about Small Business 2.0: selling and marketing online will help your business weather the storm.

Did you know?

- IMRG Index shows that, between April 2000 and end of 2007 British ecommerce has grown 5213%. The total UK spend in 2007 was £46.6bn.

- 15p in the consumer pound is spent online. Despite economic worries, Q108 saw the biggest total spend online of any quarter since inception: £13bn (or £213 per head of population).

- The IMRG forceasts that British online spending will increase every year to 2012.

Demographics

-The gender breakdown of British online shoppers is (give or take less than 1%): 50/50 Male/Female.

- 21% of online spending comes from women 18-34. 50% of women over 25 buy clothing online.

- The fast growing group of online shoppers are the Over 55s. Over 55s will soon surpass the 35-44 year olds soon as the biggest group of online shoppers.