Catalogue retailers are the surprise winners from the shift to online shopping at Christmas.

Struggling giants such as Freemans and Littlewoods had been all but written off five years ago, but have now been thrown a lifeline by shrewd investments in web trading.

Littlewoods Shop Direct says group sales across its catalogues and websites rose seven per cent in the six weeks to January 4. The figure was boosted by a 44 per cent increase in online sales.

Otto UK, owner of Freemans, says sales at its newly launched oli.com site and accompanying catalogue, which is promoted by TV presenter Holly Willoughby, reached £19million in its first 24 weeks of trading to December 19. Mike Hancox, chief executive at Otto, says 70 per cent of orders were via the internet.

- The Mail on Sunday 20/01/08 

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