The internet is now a mainstream retail medium, channel and industry. Its role and usage is central to the daily activities of most people in developed countries (and its influence is set to rise in the developing world) including buying products and services. Nearly every retailer has a web presence of some sort. Nearly everything can now be researched and/or bought online. Retail stats from UK Christmas 2006 show continued fast growth: Total online retail sales in the 10 weeks running up to Christmas 2006 : £7.66bn. Up 54% from £4.98bn in 2005. A record £183m was spent online in a single day in Britain on December 4 2006 and matched on December 11. [source IMRG and butlergroup.com ...