Designers have notched up bumper sales through an online shop by celebrating Christmas not once but three times last year.

Some 1,500 craft designers operating through Notonthehighstreet.com saw sales rocket from £2.3m to £6.4m in 2009.

Half of those sales came in the traditional run up to Christmas, but the website’s co-founder Holly Tucker, 32, said that key to the annual growth was the decision to invest in new catalogues for the first time that were circulated to more than 200,000 people in the spring and summer.

The summer months are traditionally slow for craft and gift designers while money has to be invested in stock to meet pre-Christmas orders. “We did Christmas in the middle of the year and that really helped to prop up the businesses,” said Ms Tucker. “It’s unheard of – that’s the drought and usually when businesses suffer enormously.”

The best selling designer on Notonthehighstreet, which features a range of crafts like handmade jewellery, personalised clothing and household gifts, saw sales jump 1,700pc last year.

“People were able to deal with the demand and scale their business with us,” said Ms Tucker. “People who you might not think could do it are now hiring warehouses, staff and moving out of their home. We are going to do six catalogues this year and the circulation is going to hit 3.5m.”

The company receives 30 applications a day from designers seeking to list their goods on the site. Around 93pc are rejected, Ms Tucker said, but the site has still expanded from representing 950 businesses to 1,500 in the last year.

Commission is charged on sales and to those businesses selected to appear in the catalogues.

Ms Tucker said the company, which has received investment by venture firm Spark Ventures and corporate backer Venrex, has exceeded its sales targets by £1m last year.

“The recession has probably hit us but we are growing so fast we are achieving anyway,” she said. “I think we’ve had a big impact on the industry. I say that because I have been involved in this sector for seven years and know it inside out. This is one of the most progressive and fast moving things to have happened to this sector.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/yourbusiness/

315,000 shoppers at risk of credit and debit card fraud on the high street.

More than 315,000 high-street shoppers are likely to be the victim of credit and debit card fraud this Christmas, with each losing over £600 on average to fraudsters targeting shoppers.

Rather than online, retail fraud is being fuelled by shoppers returning to the high street, as experts warn people are more susceptible to losing track of what they spend.

Brits are rejecting online shopping over concerns about postal delays, and 65 per cent say they will buy at least half their gifts in person.

Research carried out by Opinion Matters amongst more than 1500 adults on behalf of international marketing group CPP warns that the number of lost and stolen cards will peak on December 18 as stressed last-minute shoppers become less careful with their cards.

Psychologists argue that three quarters of shoppers find the experience stressful, making them more susceptible to theft. With an average Christmas present budget of £395, they also believe it is easier for shoppers to lose track of spending. A third admit doing so, while a fifth do not check their receipts against bank statements when they come home.

Dr Glenn Wilson, Visiting Professor of Psychology at Gresham College said: “Last minute Christmas shopping on the high street is a stressful experience. Stress affects people in many ways, both physically and psychologically.

“Heart rate and blood pressure rise, and there is an increase in anxiety, distractibility, confusion and forgetfulness, all of which makes people more likely to lose things, such as their bank cards, and be more at risk of theft”.

Despite the introduction of Chip and PIN verification, retail fraud remains a problem, according to CPP. In the first six months of 2009 it totalled almost £35 million. Despite Chip and PIN, lost or stolen cards could then be made to make illegal purchases online.

Sarah Blaney, a card fraud expert at CPP, said: “More and more consumers are aware of the risks when shopping online and are vigilant about keeping their passwords and personal details safe.

“However, we often get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the high street: a combination of crowds and pressure to find the perfect present can lead to our attention wandering.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/topics/christmas/

Anti-fraud organisations have the following advice for consumers as fraudsters seek to exploit the festive season.

1. Always shield your PIN and don’t ever send it over the internet or disclose it to anyone. Your bank or the police will never phone you and ask you to disclose it.

2. Consider your card details to be as valuable as cash – in the hands of a criminal there is no difference.

3. Keep your PC protected by using up-to-date antivirus software. Try to ensure you have the latest operating system and web browser.

4. Shop only on secure websites. Before submitting card details, look for a padlock or an unbroken key symbol on your web browser.

5. Also check that the internet browser address changes from “http” to “https” to indicate that you have a secure connection.

6. Sign up to Verified by Visa or MasterCard SecureCode when given the option. Such systems provide an added level of security as you must register a password with your card company.

7. Check receipts against card and bank statements regularly. If you find an unfamiliar transaction contact your bank or card company immediately. Shred or completely destroy all documents that contain personal details and don’t keep such documents in your car or handbag.

8. Try not to let your card out of your sight when making a transaction at restaurants, bars and clubs.

9. Don’t use a cash machine that appears to have been tampered with. Report it immediately to the bank concerned.

10. Don’t be distracted or accept help from apparently well-meaning strangers while using a cash machine. If someone is crowding or watching you, cancel the transaction and use another machine.

11. When buying tickets online check with the venue to find out when they are being released and sent out. Also check that you know the geographic address of the website company and that they have a working landline phone number. Make sure there is a refund policy in case something goes wrong.

12. When dealing with tradesmen never hand over a cash deposit, be wary of special offers or warnings about your home and don’t agree to a trader starting any work straight away. Take time to consult with someone you trust for a second opinion and speak to friends, family or neighbours before making any decision.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/consumertips/

More than 4,000 UK retail groups experienced major financial difficulty in November and early 2010 is expected to see a large number of chains collapsing, according to stark new research for Telegraph Media Group by Begbies Traynor, the corporate recovery specialist.

Some 4,021 retailers faced “significant” problems over the month of November, just 2pc fewer than in November last year when the consumer economy was crippled by the global banking collapse. Scotland and the South-West of England saw the number of distressed stores rise significantly over November compared to last year while 75 retailers had “critical” problems in November, compared to 100 last year.

The figures are part of Retail Stress Indicator in conjunction with Begbies Traynor, a new survey which will run weekly on telegraph.co.uk from this week. The Stress Indicator will show how many retailers are in trouble and the geographic region of the stores in question. The retailers could be chains as well as stand-alone stores.

Begbies Traynor defines retailers facing “significant” problems as those facing court actions or those with poor financial accounts. “Critical” retailers are those with wind-up petitions or County Court judgments against them totalling £5,000 or more.

The fact that so many stores are struggling so close to Christmas suggests that the economic recovery is some way off. Some £34.4bn is spent on UK high streets in December and the month is crucial to retailers’ financial well-being.

Nick Hood, senior London partner at Begbies Traynor, the corporate recovery specialist, said that the outlook remains bad.

“Nobody should be lulled into a false sense that the UK retail is in recovery mode by taking at face value an apparent 25pc fall in the numbers of critical actions against retailers. This time last year the news that restructuring advisers had been appointed at Woolworths had destabilised stakeholder sentiment in the retail market, leading to a sharp reassessment of risk and ultimately to the collapse over Christmas 2008 of 15 major national and regional store chains, many prior to Christmas Day.

“The worst impact of another tough Christmas is likely to be felt in the early part of 2010, as the distorting impact of the VAT rate change is felt with full force.”

On Friday Richard Hyman, strategic retail adviser at Deloitte, said that 40pc of people were intending to spend less this Christmas than they did last year.

Mr Hyman said: “Consumers and retailers will be looking to the pre-Budget report. One area that may receive attention is VAT, with some suggesting it may be raised above the already planned increase back to 17.5pc from January 1. An increase of 1pc in VAT would raise £5bn for the Exchequer but would be a blow for the high street.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/

The Telegraph brings you a selection of the best ways to save money online this Christmas with exclusive voucher codes.

Some of these offers involve special discount voucher codes that you need to enter on the online shopping site; others are simply great online prices.

Sylvanian Families Caravan

Save 10pc and get free next day delivery when you order the Dream Toy shortlisted Sylvanian Families Caravan at iwantiwant.com

Code: XMAS09. http://www.vouchercodes.co.uk/iwantiwant.com

Expires Thu 31st Dec 09

Ben 10 Laser Set

Get 15pc off the Ben 10 Laser Set at Big Red Warehouse with this code. Code: BIGRED15. http://www.vouchercodes.co.uk/bigredwarehouse.co.uk

Expires Thu 31st Dec 09

Kidizoom Mulitmedia Digital Camera

Get £15 off your first order over £25 at Littlewoods and get the Dream Toy shortlisted vtech Kidizoom Mulitmedia Digital Camera for only £45

Code: ZG134. http://www.vouchercodes.co.uk/littlewoods.com . Expires Thu 31st Dec 09

Stocking fillers

10pc off Orders at Hawkin’s Bazaar – Perfect for stocking fillers, from craft kits to magic tricks to flashing rubber ducks!Download the voucher here: http://www.vouchercodes.co.uk/hawkinsbazaar.co.uk

Expires Sun 13th Dec 09

Keep up with the latest offers every day or check previous lists in our archive at telegraph.co.uk/bestonlinedeals

* Discount codes from MyVoucherCodes.co.uk; online deals from pricerunner.co.uk

Hotel Endsleigh, Devon

A quintessential cosy country retreat opened in 2005 by Alex Polizzi and her mother, Olga (sister of Rocco Forte), Hotel Endsleigh looks like one of those iced gingerbread houses all year round, so, as you can imagine, it comes into its own at Christmas.

The house is wonderfully welcoming with corridors full of wellington boots to be borrowed and gorgeous drawing-rooms with roaring fires. Guests are often to be found with their shoes off in front of the fire, eating freshly baked scones with clotted cream and jam.

Be sure to arrive on Christmas Eve in time for carols sung by the Milton Abbot Choir in the hall, followed by dinner (scallops, smoked quail, breast of duck – delicious). On Christmas Day, the Rev Greg Stanton will give a blessing before a traditional lunch, and then Father Christmas will bring presents to every guest. On Boxing Day, lunch is followed by a film screening in the ballroom. Those who want to do their own thing can head to the nearby small market town of Tavistock or strike out along a wild stretch of the River Tamar at the foot of the garden.

Doubles from £200. Minimum three-night stays over Christmas cost from £300 per night (01822-870000; hotelendsleigh.com).

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/picturegalleries/

Britons will spend £132 million on the Christmas Black Market this year, with iPods, mobile phones and electronics the most popular goods bought, research has found.

More than one in three shoppers plan to use online auction sites and marketplaces for Christmas bargains this year, but four in 10 said they are happy to turn a blind eye to potentially stolen goods if the price is right.

According to research from home insurer LV=, one in four will not make any checks into a seller’s online feedback before making a purchase, while almost eight in 10 will not ask any questions about the background of the item for sale.

One in three of the adult population will buy from independent sellers this Christmas, according to research, spending on average £103. Of all those who have bought, almost one in 10 later found their goods to be counterfeit or stolen. By this calculation therefore, Brits will spend £132,620,822 on counterfeit or stolen goods.

Popular items bought online that are commonly sold on by thieves include mobile phones, laptops and iPods, while some of the most popular counterfeits are DVDs and computer games.

John O’Roarke, managing director of LV=, said: “Christmas is coming and, with many people continuing to feel the impact of the recession, it’s not surprising that shoppers are hunting for the best deals online. What this research shows is that there is a huge market for stolen and counterfeit items on the internet and buyers should be wary of deals that look too good to be true.

“Anyone purchasing these goods is also encouraging further crime such as burglary and theft. We urge shoppers to think twice and take steps to ensure they are not buying stolen or counterfeit goods and thereby encouraging the black market.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/

We look at ways to cut costs and even earn cash back on your Christmas shopping this year.

Sign up for sales alerts

The first step for any savvy shopper is to know where to find the sales. The quickest and easiest way to stay informed is to sign up for Sales Alert email newsletters.

This week, according to the Moneysavingexpert.com newsletter, for example, you can save 10pc at organic food store Planet Organic with the discount code JD72YQP at the checkout.

Or you can print a voucher and fill in your name and email address to get 20pc off full-price items in store at Envy and Tom Wolfe. Visit www.moneysavingexpert.com to register.

Or sign up for the mydeco Sales Scoop and get an early bird peek of the best deals. Visit www.mydeco.com to sign up.

Or why not sign up to receive the Frugal Friday weekly email from Lovemoney.com? This newsletter is full of money-saving tips, the week’s best offers and even Frugal Food – recipes for tasty treats that don’t cost a fortune. You can even follow Frugal Friday on web messaging service Twitter (www.twitter.com/Frugal_Friday ) to get daily updates on the latest offers and savings.

To find out more, visit www.lovemoney.com

Use voucher codes

Shoppers can find big savings this Christmas by using the internet before they hit the high street. Nearly every major retailer is offering discounts to shoppers that could cut hundreds of pounds off your shopping this season.

Research by Kelkoo, the price comparison website, said shoppers saved £16m this year by using voucher codes, an increase of £5m compared with two years ago.

Shoppers can use online vouchers in two ways – by printing them off and taking them into the store, or by using voucher codes at the checkout when shopping online.

To find the latest vouchers and discount codes, visit www.telegraph.co.uk

Cut the cost of the Christmas tipple

It is possible to save money on your Christmas wine without having to cross the Channel, provided you know where to look.

Check out supermarkets for good deals on alcohol – they will often offer discounts if you buy in bulk.

For example, Marks & Spencer is offering 25pc off wine online and in store when you buy six or more bottles. A quick look on the website shows you can find a case of Château Gasparets Corbières 2006 for just £56.20, down from £83.88 or a case of Single Estate Grenache Blanc 2008 for £53.91, down from £71.88.

You can order online, by telephone or in store and you can opt for home delivery for just £3.50. Visit www.marksandspencer.com or call 0845 6031603 for more details. If you visit M & S through the money-back website Quidco (www.Quidco.com ), you will also earn 8pc cashback to maximise your savings.

One of the best websites for wine deals is Quaffers’ Offers (www.quaffersoffers.co.uk ) This simple site allows you to search the current offers at supermarkets across the country, as well as specialist wine merchants.

For instance, this week it shows that Tesco is discounting Famiglia Terraccia Chianti Riserva to £5.49 from £10.99, while Co-op has reduced Firetail Estate Selection Chardonnay 2008 from £6.99 from £3.49. Add to your savings and earn 3pc cashback on your purchase when you visit the website through Quidco.

Or why not make the most of voucher codes if you are shopping for your alcohol online this Christmas? They could result in substantial discounts.

For example, you could get £25 off a case of wine worth £64.99 with the code MVC25 at Naked Wines (www.nakedwines.com ) Or you could save 5pc on all orders when you use the code WGALGYX3PU at Home Brew Online (www.home-brew-online.com )

You can also earn an extra 5pc cashback on your purchases from Home Brew Online if you visit the website through Quidco.

Compare prices on your mobile

Bagging yourself a bargain is now even easier as shoppers use price comparison applications on their mobile phones. Anyone with a web-enabled phone or iPhone can check prices from thousands of retailers online while standing on the shop floor.

According to research from Kelkoo.com, comparing prices on your mobile can save shoppers more than 15pc on their purchases, including delivery, which can easily add up for families doing the Christmas shopping.

For example, the Peppa Pig Princess Peppa’s Palace is £45 at Debenhams, but a quick search on Kelkoo and you can find it for £34.44 at Toys R Us, including delivery.

Alternatively, the latest Jamie Oliver cookbook – Jamie’s America – can be found at M&S for £15, but only £9.99 with free delivery from Amazon (www.amazon.co.uk )

The most popular price comparison mobile phone applications, such as Kelkoo and PriceRunner, are free and easy to use. However, your mobile network may charge you for using the internet on your phone. Most providers charge based on the amount of data you download; others have bundles where you pay a fixed charge for as much browsing as you like.

You can access the Kelkoo Mobile service by typing http://m.kelkoo.co.uk/ into your phone’s browser, as there is no download required.

But with PriceRunner Mobile, you have to download the free software to your mobile. To download, text ”PR” to 60009 and you will receive a text with instructions on how to install the application. If your phone is not compatible with the PriceRunner Mobile application you will be sent a text message to your phone telling you that when you try to install it.

Visit www.kelkoo.co.uk or www.pricerunner.co.uk for more information.

Try a discount supermarket

Supermarket snobbery is a thing of the past. The recession has made savvy shopping chic and we are just as likely to shop at Aldi as Waitrose, or pop into Marks & Spencer for something special, but do the weekly shop at Tesco.

For example, this week at Lidl, you can buy 15 bottles of Budweiser Beer for just £8 or Tête de Moine Swiss cheese (100g) for just £1.99.

It is also worth looking at discount shops such as Poundland, which is now offering plates, crackers and festive table decorations for just £1.

To see what’s on offer, visit the websites www.poundland.co.uk or www.lidl.co.uk where you can find your nearest store, although you cannot yet buy online.

Buying cheaper supermarket own-brands need not mean scrimping on taste. To find the best own-brands, visit www.supermarketownbrandguide.co.uk , which reviews more than 2,000 products from shops such as Waitrose, Tesco, Asda and Aldi.

Remember, when buying unbranded products, people who have food allergies or intolerances should carefully check the ingredients to make sure they can eat it: dried milk and wheat are often used as fillers, and cheaper options may include gelatin or animal fat not suitable for vegetarians.

Order your Christmas cards online

Vistaprint (www.vistaprint.co.uk ) has hundreds of Christmas cards for much less than you would pay on the high street. Create your own for a fraction of the cost through the free online greeting design studio. It is easy to customise your Christmas cards with text and upload photos for a personal touch. Order now and save 50pc on all Christmas cards. Prices start at £2.49 for 10 cards.

If you visit the website through Quidco, you will earn £6.50 cashback on your first purchase.

Buy cheap books

If you have a few bookworms on your Christmas list this year, you could save a fortune by using discount retailers online.

The first place to look for a deal is The Book People (www.thebookpeople.co.uk ), where you can find savings of least 50pc off the publishers’ recommended prices. For example, a 10-piece set of the popular children’s books Charlie and Lola will set you back only £9.99 on the site, compared to the recommended retail price of £59.60.

For food lovers, The Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook is available for just £4.99, down from the regular price of £16.99.

If you have a vampire fan to buy for, why not buy the entire True Blood eight-book collection for just £8.99, instead of the usual £55.92 price tag?

And there is good news for shoppers who steer clear of buying online as The Book People sends out a monthly mail-order catalogue packed with popular titles. To put your name on the mailing list, call 0845 602 4040. Another port of call for cheap books is Red House (www.redhouse.co.uk) A quick visit to this discounted book retailer shows that you can buy all three books in the best-selling Twilight saga for just £7.99, a saving of £24.98, or the seven-book Rainbow Magic Dance Fairies Collection for just £6.99, which is £20.94 less than the recommended retail price.

Save even more and buy your books through Quidco where members can earn 6pc money back from The Book People and 5pc back from Red House.

Compare supermarkets

Competition at the supermarket is stronger than ever at Christmas, and you can save one-fifth of the cost of your weekly food shop with grocery comparison website www.mysupermarket.com

The site allows you to compare prices at different supermarkets, including Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose’s online service, Ocado. Not only will it compare the cost of your trolley in all four supermarkets, it allows you to buy the items from their cheapest source at the click of a mouse. Visit this website through Quidco and earn £5 when you sign up to mysupermarket.com.

Keep it local

According to a survey published this year by Opinium Research, 24pc of consumers have turned their backs on supermarkets because of the recession and are shopping more regularly at local shops such as butchers, markets and greengrocers in an attempt to save money. Butchers often offer cheaper cuts – collars of pork, brisket and stewing meat – which you may not be able to find at the supermarket, yet can save you a fortune. To find a local butcher, visit www.findabutcher.co.uk

When it comes to vegetables, why not look at your local street market? Find one by visiting The National Market Traders Federation website, www.nmtf.co.uk

And remember to do your shopping just before closing time to save yourself a bundle. Many market-stall sellers do not want to have any stock left at the end of the day – making it the best time to pick up a bargain.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/

Shoppers are being urged to get online this Christmas as retailers offer the best deals via discount vouchers and promotions on social networking sites Twitter and Facebook.

It is the first time that companies have used the websites to offer customers details about their Christmas deals.

It comes ahead of what experts predict will be the biggest online shopping day of the year on Monday, with more than 700 sales a minute ringing through virtual tills.

The research by online retailer Zavvi.com found that more than 81 per cent of Britons are planning to do their Christmas shopping online this year.

The use of voucher codes can lead to significant savings, such as £600 off a £1,200 42 inch Sharp LCD Television. The code was released on Twitter today [Friday] by shopping price comparison website Kelkoo.

It said shoppers saved £16 million this year by using voucher codes, an increase of £5 million compared with two years ago. The figures excludes other discounts such as online promotions.

Christina Rebollo, a spokesman for Kelkoo, said: “Twitter is a good way to get access to voucher codes because you find out about them there and then.

“Many of these codes have a very limited time period – sometimes just a few days, meaning they may have expired by the time you find out about them.”

Shoppers can use online vouchers in two ways – by either printing them off and taking them into the store, or by using the voucher code at the checkout when shopping online.

Mark Pearson, a spokesman for voucher discount website Myvouchercodes.co.uk, said: “Twitter is a great way for last minute discounts because it is so instant and followers of the site get to hear straight away about the deals.”

Retailers are increasingly offering exclusive deals via websites such as Twitter and Facebook.

Ed Watson, a spokesman at Debenhams, said: “Whenever we tweet a discount code, it’s then retweeted voluntarily by our followers which is a sure sign that discount codes are popular. We’ve even used social media to give out exclusive codes – an example of this is when we told our Facebook fans about discounts for students the week before we launched the discounts in store, which proved to be really popular.”

Stores are also using the site to alert users of wider promotions. M&S issues details of its regular offers, including a deal of the day, on Twitter and Facebook. It also provides them with details of exclusive offers, such as a recent deal offering 10 per cent off womens knitwear.

A spokesman for M&S said: “Social networking is becoming increasingly popular and we find these sites are a great way for us to engage with our customers.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/consumertips/

This weekend is expected to be a busy day for Christmas shopping but you need not battle through the crowds to find something for everyone on your list – you could do it all online instead.

Amazon.co.uk is having a sale on DVD box sets with savings of up to 60pc and offers free delivery on all purchases for the holidays. For example, The West Wing, seasons 1-7, is £44.97, down from £99.99, or The Sopranos six-series box set is £59.98, usually £129.99.

For the bookworm, check out Penguin Books (www.penguin.co.uk) and save 20pc with the code PenguinTD before December 31. The Very Hungry Caterpillar: Little Learning Library is just £4 or the new Marian Keyes book, This Charming Man, is £6.39 instead of £7.99 and pay nothing for delivery.

A football fan will love a personalised football book from Dream Books (www.dreambooks.net), and save 25pc with code 6982.

Stuff a stocking this year with discounted perfumes and cosmetics at www.halfpriceperfumes.co.uk.

Just use the code hppxm10 at the online checkout before December 1 and save 10pc. Another site is The Perfume Shop (theperfumeshop.com). Giorgio Armani Code for Men is £34.99, down from £41.99.

For those into gadgets, take a look at the huge range of gifts and gizmos at www.iwantoneofthose.com and use the code AOFF5 to save 5pc.

Those family members with a sweet tooth will love everything from Hotel Chocolat (www.hotelchocolat.co.uk) where there’s 10pc off with the voucher code MVCXMAS before December 23, and if you spend £50 or more excluding delivery, you’ll get a box of chocolates worth £12.50.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/consumertips/best-online-deals/