TV shopping channels and the internet mean you can now shop from the comfort of your own home

Home shopping has existed for decades, primarily thanks to mail order catalogues and the likes of the Avon lady. But it is only with the advent of the internet (how on earth did we ever function without the world wide web?) and TV shopping channels popping up all over the place on satellite stations that home shopping has experienced such explosive growth. And it's easy to see the reasons why it has caught on.

New technology means that we no longer have to put up with annoying traffic jams, parking meters, frenzied shoppers and long queues at the checkout tills when we can get all the things we need without even venturing outside..

'I do prefer to see what I'm buying, but I think the internet is wonderful for underwear and casual clothes and accessories. If I'm after a dress for a big occasion, though, I prefer to go and try them all on!'

Food
No need for trolley dashes with these two great sites

www.ocado.com
Great for? Low prices, high quality While Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury's may be better-known names, online grocer Ocado's home shopping service is second to none. It claims to have 'Tesco prices, Waitrose quality' which is a good combination by anyone's standards. The retailer actually sells Waitrose's own-brand products so that's a bonus. And if you're really lucky, spend over £75 and you could get free delivery depending on the time of week you shop.

www.ableandcole.co.uk
Great for? Organic fruit and vegetables You can buy a box, or select your own choices online, and have it delivered weekly for free. An organic food box contains a different food each week, so that farmers can work with changing seasons. The meat, fish, dairy and bread are always British.

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At Lands' End, we know how hectic life can be, so we've created one of the most convenient shopping experiences you'll ever have - we're open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We'll give you 10% off your first order, plus free delivery! Call free on 0800 220106, and quote LK08, or go to www.landsend.co.uk/athomewith and enter LK08 in 'Enter Code or Voucher' box at the checkout. Offer ends 31 July 2008.

Clothes
Now it's easy to update the family's wardrobe online

www.landsend.co.uk
Great for? Ladies clothing for women of all shapes and sizes
While many companies regard petite ranges as little more than an obligation, catalogue company Lands' End really does cater for women of all shapes and sizes. There's a huge variety of clothing for petite, larger and tall women and the designs really do flatter all shapes. And if you're searching for swimwear, you can even shop by 'anxiety zone'.

So, to hide a flabby tum, for example, click on 'Minimise Tummy/Waist' and a load of suitable swimsuits pop up. How fab is that?

www.riverisland.co.uk
Great for? Mens outfit-matching If you're one of those men who hates shopping for clothes and doesn't have a clue about which trousers go with which top, River Island's website may be just for you. With an up-to-the-minute range of smart and casual wear, the site is easy to browse and when you find an item you like, such
as a pair of trousers, it will suggest a top, shoes and accessories to complete the look. No need to be dragged around the shopping mall by wives or girlfriends any more.

www.debenhams.com
Great for? Designer children's gear that's affordable If you want nothing but the best in designer wear for your kids at purse-friendly prices, go straight to Debenhams. With designers including John Rocha, Jasper Conran and Matthew Williamson working to create a smart but comfy range of casual, formal and nightwear, your cuties will be the envy of mums and dads everywhere.

Shoes
Keen prices and a great range of styles make these sites worth a look

www.landsend.co.uk
Great for? Casual everyday footwear Now here's a great site for sore feet. Lands' End has an impressive array of casual footwear under its Active, Comfort Casual and Dress Casual ranges. The website's Shoefinder tool makes browsing through the stock of footwear as easy as you could wish for. And don't be put off by the US sizes, as the conversion charts will easily show you the UK equivalent.

www.sportsshoes.com
Great for? Sports sneakers at low prices The domain name says it all. This site has all manner of sports shoes: running; walking; football; outdoors; gym; fashion; court; rugby and home exercise. While several internet sites sell top-brand sports shoes, sportsshoes.com has a price guarantee so if you find something cheaper elsewhere, they'll take £1 off, and add free delivery and a pair of sports socks into the bargain.

www.marksandspencer.com
Great for? Formal comfy footwear Marks isn't all about knickers. It stocks an impressive range of formal footwear too. And, best of all, many of the shoes prove fashionable and formal footwear needn't mean having to wear blisters the following day! Women can choose from the Limited Collection, Per Una and Autograph ranges while for men there's the ultra-posh Jeffery-West or Italian- style Collezione collections.

Home
From TVs and coffee tables to the best money deals..

www.empiredirect.co.uk
Great for? Good value electricals There's a whole gamut of websites selling electrical products, but for value and service, Empire Direct ranks pretty highly, being one of the fastest-growing and most well-known internet electrical retailers. Whether it's plasma TVs, home computers, kitchen or small appliances like irons you want, Empire Direct has all this and more. You're likely to save at least 10% compared with buying from a high street store, so definitely worth the surfing time.

www.ikea.co.uk
Great for? Cheap, durable furniture A year ago, Ikea would never have made it onto these pages as there was no internet shopping facility, but it has recently started selling its wares online and thank goodness for that. No more tiresome snaking around its huge stores and mile-long queues just to get that coffee table you like. Ikea may not have the classiest furniture, but for innovative, sturdy designs, value for money and the ability to design your own wardrobes how you want them, it's tops.

www.moneysupermarket.com
Great for? Comparing rates of borrowing and saving Long gone are the days when you had to go into a bank to arrange that loan, order a credit card or open a savings account. Sit at your computer, visit Money Supermarket and within minutes, compare all the major banks' financial products. The price comparison website promises to find you the best deals and even negotiates special deals direct with financial institutions.

Accessories
Now that you can buy belts, bags and hats online, it's easy to make that outfit extra special

www.bagsdirect.co.uk
Great for? Bags of bags Whether you need luggage, laptop, handbags, conference or casual, Bags Direct is a one-stop shop for all your carrying needs. The range and quality of products is impressive and delivery to UK mainland is free for orders over £35. And, to stand out from the crowd, you can customise your bag by submitting a logo or design to Bags Direct who wll apply it to one of their products.

www.elliotrhodes.com
Great for? Customised belts for all occasions A good site for belt-lovers where you can customise and personalise your belts. Buy the buckles and straps separately, and because the parts are interchangeable, you can keep changing your look without having to buy a new belt every time.
A simple but great idea.

www.lockhatters.co.uk
Great for? Posh headgear for men and women That special outfit for that special occasion needs topping off with the best hat you can find. And you can be sure that James Lock & Co (established in 1676), will have just what you are looking for. So whether it's a wedding, a garden party or a day at the races, log on to Lock & Co's easy-to-navigate website and you'll soon be turning heads wherever you go.

What's on TV
Shopping channels for your pleasure..

Thomson TV - Sky TV Channel 637 Great for? Good value package holidays If you're planning to book a package holiday but want to see a bit more than a brochure before taking the plunge, tune in to Thomson TV.

The tour operator offers a wide choice of breaks and you can really get a taste of the facilities that specific places and resorts offer, to see whether they live up to your idea of a glorious getaway.

Pitch TV - Sky TV Channels 646 & 657 Great for? Value-for-money exercise, grooming and gardening equipment Pitch TV's hair- removing kits are great news for all women who find the defuzzing process a chore. Choose from Sheer Skin depilators, Luma Tweeze (a non-slip tweezer with in-built magnification) and the Wizzit hair remover. And if you're not sure how any of the products work and have missed the demos on TV, you can go to www.pitchwell.com. The Push Up Pro and Total Body revolution are easy-to-use home exercising products.

And when you've finished your personal grooming, you can make your garden look glorious, too. From cleaning products such as Karcher pressure washers and window cleaners to super gazebos and sizzling barbeques, you can order as many items as you like but only pay one lot of p&p.

Pitch TV also features a host of innovative products to make cleaning the home easier. Order via your TV or visit the website online at www.pitchwell.com

Gems TV - Sky Channels 642, 646 & 660 Great for? Sparkling jewellery If you love gemstones but want to know their full history before you purchase your favourites, this TV channel is heaven-sent. The range of gems on offer is vast and the quality of every stone featured is guaranteed in a Gems TV certificate. Also at www.gemstv.co.uk