Retailers are already gearing up for Cyber Monday, which takes place the Monday after Thanksgiving, this year falling on November 26. Cyber Monday is one of the biggest shopping days for online sales, and retailers are expecting an increase in the amount of traffic on their ecommerce sites, leading up to Cyber Monday.

Forbes reports that businesses are improving their websites to enhance their customers' experiences for online shopping, according to a recent study by Rackspace. The steps being taken include hiring more IT staff members, as 29 percent of survey respondents stated they plan to bring on more workers to handle the increase in internet traffic. Additionally, 28 percent said they are collaborating with their third-party hosting providers to ensure that periods of high traffic will not impact their consumers' online shopping experience, states the news source.

There are several other steps that retailers can follow to improve their websites and give their shoppers the best online experience. In an article for Customer Think, Tricia Morris writes that businesses should consider arming their sites with information that customers often look for. This will increase satisfaction and service quality. Additionally, retailers need to ensure their patrons' experiences are consistent through all of the channels provided by companies, states Morris.

Small and midsize retailers saw a 5 percent increase in online sales for the month of September. Sporting goods and booksellers experienced the most growth, continuing the trend for the sectors.

Internet Retailer reports that a study by Dydacomp revealed that in September, web retail sales rose by 5.4 percent from the previous month. However, the growth was just slightly below that of August, which increased by 5.9 percent from July. Small and midsize booksellers brought in $32.4 million overall, while sporting good retailers saw a total of $9.62 million. However, there were some industries that did not fare as well. This includes jewelry, home furnishings and consumer electronics, according to the research.

Online retail sales are expected to increase for 2012, states a survey from BDO, LLP. It is anticipated that ecommerce purchases will jump by 5.9 percent this year, which is significant when compared to the increases of 4.1 percent for in-store sales and 4.5 percent for overall purchases. Additionally, the study found that retailers are expecting a rise of 4.6 percent in online holiday sales.

Some time ago, it may have seemed that the rise of smartphones and tablets meant the demise of in-store retail operations. However, this is certainly not the case, and many merchants are embracing the technology to stay competitive.

According to VentureBeat, mobile marketer InMarket believes that retailers can implement strategies that target consumers who use their devices both in stores and online. This includes creating advertisements that are personalized and that offer items that fit the needs and wants of mobile shoppers. InMarket's communications director told the source that as more customers are using their smartphones and tablets, retailers must be willing to provide for them through the channel or risk losing out to competition.

Mobile retail sales are expected to have a large impact on this year's holiday sales. A report by Citigroup anticipates that digital purchases will account for 20 percent of 2012's total retail sales in the coming months, as more consumers use their devices to buy gifts and other items. This represents approximately $10 billion total. Additionally, by 2016, Citigroup states that mobile purchases will reach $31 billion, according to a study by Forrester Research. 

As the economy continues to improve, consumers are slowly regaining confidence in conditions. For this reason, this year's holiday retail sales are expected to surpass last year's totals. However, recent research has found that shoppers will be taking to retail websites and other resources in larger numbers than ever to purchase items and gifts over the next few months.

According to Internet Retailer, a report from Deloitte LLP found that non-store holiday sales will increase by 15 to 17 percent from last year. Approximately three-quarters of the total will be from retail sites, and the remaining 25 percent will represent catalogs and television retailers. Internet sales will reach $54.47 billion for the 2012 holiday season, a significant increase from the $46.63 billion that was spent online last year.

"Non-store sales continue to outpace overall growth, but increasingly influence consumers' experience with the retail store, from trip planning, to in-store product research, and post-purchase reviews and sharing," says Alison Paul, vice chairman of Deloitte LLP.  "This holiday season, retailers' most lucrative customers may be the ones they engage across physical and virtual storefronts."

Overall holiday retail sales will see a 4.1 percent jump from last year, for a total of $586.1 billion, according to a report from the National Retail Federation.

As more consumers are going online to purchase items and services from retailers, these merchants are reaching out to target audiences through advertisements on search engines, which has led to an increase in paid search spending in the third quarter.

According to Internet Retailer, research from marketing firm IgnitionOne found that purchases made from paid searches rose 17.8 percent year-over-year in 2012's third quarter. While this is a significant annual increase, this quarter's totals were relatively unchanged from the second quarter. The reason for this slow growth could be attributed to concerns over the American and global economy.

Things are looking better for overall U.S. retail sales. The New York Post reports that for the month of August, consumer spending grew by 0.5 percent, representing the highest increase since February, according to a study by the Commerce Department. Retailers saw a 0.9 percent jump in consumer purchases throughout the month, compared to July. However, some sectors saw a slow down in sales, including clothing and electronics.

The source states that research from the University of Michigan showed that consumer sentiment has increased to its highest level in five years, which could help further boost retail sales nationwide this holiday season.

In the hopes of generating change within Washington D.C., several large online retailers have formed The Internet Association, an organization aimed at decreasing government regulations against ecommerce businesses.

According to Internet Retailer, the recently created group includes big name retailers such as Amazon.com Inc. and eBay Inc. It also is comprised of other websites, such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Expedia and Monster Worldwide. The goal of these corporations is to limit the regulations that are placed on them by the federal government, which they argue decrease innovation and growth within the online marketplace.

"I am excited that The Internet Association is going to be focused on policies that keep the Internet open and vibrant on behalf of users and businesses of all sizes," stated Tod Cohen, vice president of eBay's global government relations, as quoted by the news source.

There are several objectives that the group is focusing on, according to The Internet Association's website. These include protecting internet freedom, empowering consumers and users and bolstering innovation. Member companies believe reducing regulations fosters the growth and creativity that is required to keep the internet as a valuable tool for the world.

Owners of smartphones and tablets in the United Kingdom are increasingly using their devices to purchase items from retailers, and for the upcoming holiday season it is expected that the number will significantly rise.

According to research from the Interactive Media in Retail Group (IMRG), 41 percent of U.K. smartphone users stated they will buy gifts and items this year through mobile commerce, reports Internet Retailer. This is a significant increase from the 21 percent who said the same in 2011. Additionally, 71 percent of tablet owners plan to make holiday purchases on their devices this year.

"Mobiles have become an integral part of the engagement process between brands and consumers, and the rollout of 4G is only going to increase the appeal and ease of accessing mobile Internet on the move," said an IMRG spokesman as quoted by the source.

Despite these high expectations, many retailers throughout the country do not have mobile optimized websites. A survey by OnePoll revealed that 84 percent of fashion retailers in the U.K. do not have a mobile site. However, 90 percent of merchants surveyed stated they believe mobile shopping is essential to retail operations.

Smartphones are everywhere these days, as consumers use them to perform a variety of daily tasks. These devices are now being brought in to the retail industry, as shoppers are accessing company websites and applications through their phones to compare products and prices.

Internet Retailer cites a study by comScore, which revealed that four out of five American consumers have used their smartphones to look up either a retail mobile commerce site or application. This accounts for approximately 85.9 million adults with mobile devices.

"With nearly 86 million Americans now shopping on their smartphones, this pronounced shift in consumer behavior is simply too large for retailers to ignore, with the future of their business depending on how well they adapt to the new environment," said Mark Donovan, comScore senior vice president of mobile. "The retailers who best understand how consumers are engaging in mobile shopping behaviors and design their strategies accordingly will be best positioned to capitalize on these shifting market dynamics."

Despite these increasing numbers for mobile commerce, many retailers are still hesitant about adopting systems that accommodate consumers with smartphones. Forrester Research conducted a study which found that only half of retailers have planned to spend more than $100,000 on mobile commerce solutions this year, reports Direct Marketing News. 

Perhaps as a way to avoid the colder temperatures, consumers are expected to go online in large numbers this holiday season to purchases items and gifts. Retailers that offer internet options should begin preparing now, not only for the next few months, but for growing ecommerce in general.

Internet Retailer cites research by eMarketer, which found that American consumers will spend approximately $54.47 billion online over the next few months. This represents a 16.8 increase from last year's season, which saw a total of $46.63 in internet purchases. The study anticipates that online gift buying will account for 24.3 percent of holiday shopping. In the middle of the recession, online sales decreased. However, since economic conditions have been improving, ecommerce has been steadily growing. It also adds several benefits to the shopping experience, notes the source.

"Consumers will turn to the internet to stay within their budgets, locate hard-to-find gifts and avoid crowded stores," stated the eMarketer report.

Online sales in the U.S. have been strong for the past few years and are continuing to grow. According to comScore, the second quarter of 2012 saw a total of $43.2 billion in ecommerce, representing a 15 percent increase from the same time last year, reports Power Retail.

Women are normally the ones known for having a love of shopping. However, recent research has found that when it comes to buying items and services from retailers through mobile devices, men are the ones who have a knack for it.

Independent Retailer reports that a recent survey by market research firm uSamp found that male shoppers are significantly more likely to purchases products from their phones and tablets than females. Men bought more consumer electronics, digital content, office supplies and food and drinks with their mobile devices than women. The only category where women outpurchased men in terms of mcommerce was cosmetics. The survey also revealed that of overall shoppers, 45 percent of men are using their phones and tablets for mobile purchases, compared to 34 percent of women.

However, when it comes to implementing systems that allow for mobile payment acceptance, retailers are still hesitant. Internet Retailer cites research by Forrester which discovered that many merchants are staying conservative with their mobile efforts for 2012. On the other hand, the report suggests that these businesses will soon begin integrating solutions to accept mobile payments from customers as the trend becomes more popular and widespread.