You would think that retailers would be tripping over themselves to sell online? Not so it seems.

According to the Office of Fair Trading the UK internet shopping market is estimated to be worth more than £21.4bn, and last year over 20 million people shopped online with nearly a third of them spending £1,000-plus.  However a recent survey by Barclaycard has indicated that many established UK Retailers have yet to fully embrace ecommerce.

According to the survey over two thirds of UK retailers are missing out on potential revenues by not offering their goods for sale online. Feedback showed that the slow uptake is because of the perception that set up costs are too high and that a high level of technical know-how is needed to manage the process.

The amount of time a business had been trading was also a major factor. Of those retailers that had set up less than 2 years ago, 32% traded online, while for businesses older than 10 years, the figure was just 23%.

The opportunity for established retailers to boost local sales and grow new markets online is there to be taken. Consumer habits are changing with ecommerce now becoming a feature within local economies. The availability of broadband, removal of the 'hassle factor' and the security of purchasing from retailers that the buyer knows and trusts is boosting 'local ebusiness'.

As retail prepares for Christmas, consideration should be given to how ecommerce can offset the trend of falling high street sales.