I blogged previously about the disappointing level of sales through Cashback Shopper in December & wondered if it was just my own site that was experiencing this problem!

However, a recent newsletter from Ei42 seems to indicate that this has been a problem experienced by many online retailers.

They state:

A few members have asked about the volume of sales achieved over the festive period and on the general economic climate in which we are trading. I think without a doubt online sales have been affected and that we have not achieved the volume of sales that we may have expected when we were looking into our crystal ball back in June. The reality is that shops in the high street have had to slash prices in order to sell the stock that they had on the shelves. As a result many of us that would have loved to buy more online and get goods delivered to our door were seduced into buying in the high street stores, and who can blame anyone for that.

Out of the negative of reduced sales comes the huge positive of ‘Increased opportunity’. Unfortunately many people are facing a reduced income in 2009 for a variety of reasons and circumstances. Whilst we would not profess to be able to offer an instant solution to anyone’s financial problems, the reality is that even in the hardest of times we all still have to buy things. Ei42 offers the opportunity to buy many things with a small rebate attached and the opportunity to build a business alongside whatever else you do.

So, with more high street stores expected to go into administration in the next month or two, the opportunity to make extra money, or build a second income will take on even more importance to hard pressed people!