SINGAPORE: More Singaporeans are shopping for their Christmas presents online this festive season.

Shopping websites say orders have risen significantly compared to last year, with some reporting a two- to three-fold increase.

Even traditional gift companies are turning to the Internet.

With nearly 300,000 registered customers since vPost – SingPost's online shopping service – started three years ago, it has never been busier.

Total volume has doubled this year, compared to 2005.

In the last three weeks alone, vPost says it has recorded a three-fold jump in the number of online sales for the festive season with top sellers being books, CDs and even electronic goods from not just Singapore, but also from Japan, the United States, Korea, China and New Zealand.

But this development did not come as a surprise to the company.

Lester Chia, Assistant Vice-President, vPost, says: "Given the fact that Singaporeans are very net-savvy, there is a lot of potential to tap on Singapore customers itself. We are also riding on the trend in the USA and the UK as well. With the WIFI spots around in Singapore, we can see more people accessing the websites to buy things as well."

Looking ahead, it expects the number of online shoppers to grow and to spend more over the next few years.

Noel Gifts agrees as its internet business for Christmas has increased 65 percent compared to last year.

One reason is the buoyant Singapore economy, with customers spending more on hampers this time.

Winnie Tan, General Manager, Gifts Division, Noel Gifts, says: "We hope that the internet segment would continue to grow at a much higher rate than this year. We hope for 200 percent next year. Our internet buyers are, most of the time, individuals. We are beginning to see corporations, secretaries, PAs, admin persons, office managers coming online as well."

The majority of its customers are in their mid-20s to 40s.

To cope with the demand, the company hired 80 temporary staff.

They have been working shifts from 8am till the wee hours of the next day to get the hampers ready in time for Christmas. - CNA/so