Web sellers expect jolly holidays

NEW YORK » Retailers at the mall may be bracing for a tough holiday season, but their online counterparts are feeling more optimistic.

Nearly two-thirds of retailers, or 64 percent, expect their companies’ online revenue to increase by at least 15 percent compared with last year, according to a survey by the National Retail Federation’s Shop.org online arm. That’s up from 45.8 percent that expected an increase that size last year.

The survey, based on interviews with 51 top online retailers Sept. 1-27, also found that e-commerce companies are thinking early when it comes to Christmas marketing. Forty percent of online retailers planned to begin holiday marketing by Halloween.

Still, despite solid sales prospects, merchants are not going to dump some of the Web’s most alluring incentives, particularly free shipping.

Four out of the five online retailers said they’ll offer free shipping at some point during the season, and nearly one-third said these offers will begin earlier this year than a year ago. Shoppers might even see more free shipping deals this year as almost 37 percent said their budget for free shipping is higher than last year; 57 percent said it would be about the same, while 6 percent said it would be somewhat lower.

Forecasts for online holiday sales are just trickling in. But online research firm comScore Inc. expects anywhere from 7 to 9 percent growth this holiday season compared with a year ago, when business was up 4 percent over the previous year, according to its calculations.

TOTAL RECALL

» About 73,500 cans of fabric protector, manufactured in the United States by Claire-Sprayway Inc. of Addison, Ill., because overexposure to the fumes, vapor or spray mist can pose a respiratory system hazard. The recalled items were sold by automotive supply, auto detailing, upholstery, textiles, furniture and fabric stores nationwide from January 2005 through August 2010. Details: by phone at 877-416-7324 or online at www.clairemfg.com/recall.php or www.cpsc.gov.