Internet to rescue UK retail

Online spending will rescue Britain's retail sector from recession, with sales over the Internet set to more than double to £21.3 billion by the end of 2011, according to a report, says The Times.

The study, by market researchers Experian, forecasts total retail sales will grow by just 0.2% from 2008 to 2011.

But while high street sales will fall by 1.4%, online sales will soar 137% and account for one in every £14 pounds spent by 2012, said the report, which was commissioned by online payment service PayPal.

As retailers cut back on staff, many online retail employees are in the midst of a career transition, states SmartBrief.

Shop.org has introduced a free programme to help people who have lost a job in retail.

The programme offers individual accounts for access to the Shop.org member Web site, enables people to leverage Shop.org social networks for sought-after positions and contacts, and provides a limited number of free conference passes.

GuestLogix, a provider of onboard retail solutions to the airline industry, has secured a multi-year agreement with British Airways to implement the GuestLogix Mobile Virtual Store, says Market Watch.

GuestLogix Mobile Virtual Store is an onboard retail transaction platform featuring the payment industry's first PCI PED 2.0 certified POS handheld devices.

The GuestLogix technology is now being deployed on the British Airways' fleet to support onboard merchandising and duty-free transactions using cash and credit cards.