Live chat is to become a core sales channel for watch manufacturer Accurist after it saw around 100 visitors a week use the facility during a trial.

More and more people are shopping online. Great for business, but do you know the laws about your customers’ rights? Find out more from the Office of Fair Trading.

Clothing at Tesco is trialling virtual fitting room technology that it says answers the problem of how to combine styling, fit and size based on individuals’ measurements. The technology from Metail is inspired by Cambridge University research.

Buying groceries online is a milestone that’s yet to be achieved by some 49% of shoppers, according to new research that also finds more than a quarter say they will never do so. Furniture and health and beauty products are other categories that significant numbers currently reject buying online.

A new augmented reality-powered Fantasy Mirror is now in use at London’s Selfridges, where shoppers can use it to try on the latest luxury lingerie range from Triumph without taking their clothes off. Holition developed the mirror, at the heart of a multimedia campaign created by OglivyAction.

In our latest preview of one of our major events of the year, Internet Retailing Expo (IRX 2012), we have an interview with Tom Allason, founder and chief executive of online delivery specialist Shutl. We also have the latest news from suppliers showing at IRX, today featuring Intershop and its next generation ecommerce platform Intershop 7.

John Lewis has signed up to RichRelevance’s personalisation technology as it looks to grow its online sales. It says that the use of the technology helps it give customers a unique and more relevant experience.

MyTuxedo saw traffic and revenues rise after a search campaign. The work, by Site Visibility, also boosted traffic to the formalwear hire business’ overseas websites.

M&S has put new technology in place in order to improve the individual’s experience on the site. The personalisation and analytics technology comes from RichRelevance.

In our first preview of one of our major events of the year, Internet Retailing Expo (IRX 2012), we take a look at our conference agenda. The Enterprise Conference will be held on March 21, the first day of the two-day event and is for experienced ecommerce professionals who want to take their business to the next level.

John Lewis says its new iPhone app will help improve its customers multichannel experience, whether they are in its stores or on the move. Meanwhile its website enjoyed a second successive record sales week.

Aurora Fashions says its launch of the Anywhere Everywhere system, which allows online sales to be fulfilled from any shop, will boost sales and also marks its transition from multichannel to omnichannel retailer.

Dixons Retail has invested in improving its customer service with a knowledgebase, powered by Eptica, that aims to give both call centre agents and website visitors, quick and easy access to the technical information they need. Dixons Retail expects that 3m callers will contact the KNOWHOW call centre over Christmas, including up to 1,000 technical calls on Christmas Day.

Charles Tyrwhitt, the upmarket shirts retailer, has chosen multivariate testing technology from Maxymiser in order to boost its online sales.

Collect Plus now delivers four million parcels a year, the delivery service said today. Following fast take up of its returns service, it now plans to focus on Click and CollectPlus in the coming year.

Money-saving website DiscountVouchers.co.uk has moved into the daily deals market through a partnership with NimbleCommerce. The two say the service is different because retailers are guaranteed payment, even if a customer does not appear to claim the deal.

The IVIS Group has opened its doors in China, with the aim of helping UK retailers to break into the market.

Four out of 10 UK online shoppers will now be able to get their purchases delivered within an hour and a half, following logistics company Shutl’s expansion to six more UK cities, the company said today.

Ocado is launching a new Savings Pass deal offering loyal customers discounts of 10% or more on a core range. The launch came as the retailer announced near 20% sales growth.

Collect+, the logistics company that allows shoppers to receive and send parcels from their local convenience store, has signed up its 4,000th local shop. The Menteith Mini Market in Alloa, Scotland, says joining the network will help it diversify and attract more customers.