Figures from the Office of National Statistics are expected to show retail figures down on the high street as the Confederation of British Industry warns October sales to be the lowest in 16 months. With less than wonderful weather,  and more people feeling  pocket pinch, online shopping maybe  the silver lining to the spending cloud and set to surge as people look for good deals.

Consumer spending in real terms fell this September, as customers shied away from the high streets in the current economic gloom. Total sales value rose marginally, by 0.3%, offset by inflation, which has risen to around 5.2%.  Scottish Retail figures show September's like-for-like sales, not include factors such as new store openings, were down 0.6% on the same month last year.

High street casualties are expected to rise as more household names and leading corporations suffer and profit warnings issued by the British retailers are at alarming levels.

Empower social shopping?
But former Leed University graduates, Kevin Flood, CEO and Mike Harty COO (L2R) have set up a  social shopping site Shopow  as "a truly independent and free from commercial bias – a trait that isn’t common elsewhere. They argue " This will not only mean that shoppers really get the best deal but also means that smaller firms will be able to compete on a level playing field with the largest high street names.”

Flood said, “While many stores are still struggling to grow in the on-going difficult climate, we see an appreciation of online retail increasing and so we’re seeing innovation, with many start-ups focussing on enhancing the bargain hunting and online researching experience for customers.”

Social shopping has emerged as an trend in online retailing as many high street stores look to engage consumers. That involves the use of social networking to share recommendations and discounts, post reviews and seek advice on products before purchase.

Harty says, “Regular web shoppers are now empowered to talk about their purchases in an honest way. Social shopping with Shopow enables shoppers to use their trusted networks to make informed decisions but also makes online shopping more interactive and enjoyable.”