The Christmas period brought plenty of festive cheer for online retailers, who according to research, have enjoyed bumper sales despite one of the poorest retail seasons to date.

Figures have started to come in which suggest that the 2002 e-commerce boom experienced in the US, where online sales increased by more than a third, has been mirrored here in the UK.

Research firm Comscore Networks says that sales in the US jumped to about $74 billion, although privacy still remains an obstacle, with one in ten respondents saying they were concerned about the security of online financial transactions.

Gay Laight, of Essex eBusiness Club, said: "This had got to be good news for online retailers. With the increasing pace of life many people to do have the time or energy to scour the high streets for gifts and online shopping provides the perfect solution."

If you would like to find out more about e-commerce, Essex eBusiness Club holds monthly meetings to keep you in touch with the latest news and developments.

On February 6, the Essex eBusiness Club will meet at Brentwood Training Centre between 10am and 12.30pm, when the topics of ASP and Capx and Voice Recognition will be covered.

The March meeting takes place on Thursday 6 at Maddison Heights, Maldon, from 9.30am to 1pm, and will focus on the importance of sales and marketing in e-commerce. It is jointly sponsored with the Maldon Economic Development Office.

For information or to book your place contact Gay Laight on (01206) 530095; www.essexebusinessclub.co.uk