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In the last trading days before Christmas, John Lewis has seen an increase in sales of 4.3% compared to last year, despite the ongoing poor weather.
Christmas Day, a day traditionally absolved from the excessive seasonal spending, could see consumers parting with up to £153m, according to analysis from the Interactive Media in Retail Group (IMRG).
Online grocery shoppers are less likely to react to marketing promotions compared to those in the supermarket, while mobile sites remain largely sub-standard, new research suggests.
Marketing strategies for the New Year may need to be adapted as consumers face a £2.3bn squeeze on discretionary spend when the new headline VAT rate of 20% comes in on 4 January.
Business group CBI has reported brisk trading in the run-up to Christmas, while online retailers are braced for a "mega Monday" of frenzied buying on 6 December.
Mothercare has declared the clothing range it launched in Boots last year a success, playing a part in driving total revenues for the six months to 9 October up 7.5% year on year to £590.2m.
Fashion house Burberry has reported a 18% year-on-year jump in revenue to £673m for the first six months of the year on the back of ambitious digital campaigns focusing on the brand and simplifying buying.
Retailers are braced for a dire Christmas, with only 14% of shoppers expecting to spend more than last year, in anticipation of a hike in VAT rates in the New Year.
Sainsbury's showed strong growth in sales of 7% to £11.9bn over the first six months of the year compared to the same period last year, with pre-tax profit up 36.3% to £466m.
User-experience consultancy Webcredible has voted John Lewis the UK's best high-street retailer website of 2010, overtaking Marks & Spencer and WH Smith.
