UK shoppers are making a last minute dash for that summer beach body as searches for fitness equipment such as cardio riders increased by 257% in just a month, reveals Twenga the next-generation shopping search engine. Visits to cross trainers were up 171%, with rowing machines up 142%, and exercise bikes up 128%. Some online shoppers are clearly willing to brave a last-minute workout during July’s heatwave to get fit for summer. Twenga’s study compared visits for the month 20^th June – 19^th July to the same period the previous month.

Visits from 20^th June to 19^th July 2010, compared with same period a month before.

The most popular brands for fitness equipment are Reebok, V-fit, York, Olympus and Body Sculpture. For cross trainers and exercise bikes, the most searched for criteria was fold-away.

High Street brands like Paul Smith and Timberland are the favourites

A five-fold increase in searches for the traditional brogue confirms its status as the re-invented casual must have this year, reveals Twenga, the new generation search engine. Searches for brogues are up 489% compared to last month. The top searched brands are the High Street favourites, such as Paul Smith, Grenson, Timberland and Doc Martens, underlining the shoe’s new trendy status.

Twenga’s study of top shoe searches on www.twenga.co.uk also shows that searches for Wellington Boots are up 91% in a month, perhaps confirming that wellies are the chic festival season essential, or maybe just that Brits fear the worst for the English summer.

Visits as at June 14^th 2010, compared with a month before.

UK consumers all set for the World Cup, but 3D vision not yet taking off

LED TVs are this year’s high tech must-have: searches are up 371% in a month on Twenga, the next-generation shopping search engine. However, 3D features are not yet a deal-breaker, with 3D vision in 12^th place among search criteria.

The top 10 LED TV search criteria on www.twenga.co.uk show diverse factors driving consumer choice:
Brands are crucial, with Panasonic in 1st place, and Samsung and Toshiba in the top 10.
Screen size is also significant, but the biggest screens are not in the top 10. Favourite dimensions are 42 inch (2^nd place), 26 inch (5^th place) and 32 inch (7^th place).
The colour of the casing is decisive, with white LCD TVs in 4^th place and silver LCD TVs 8^th.

On www.twenga.co.uk, users can compare 993 products from 158 shops, and read a buying guide: Upgrade your home with high-tech!

Visits as at June 7^th 2010, compared with a month before.

Favourite bikinis are leopard print or purple, and the monokini takes off

This summer, British babes are going sexy and colourful for the beach, reveals Twenga, the new-generation shopping search engine. The bikini is the most visited swimwear category on www.twenga.co.uk and favourite styles are increasingly eye-catching:
•  Top colours are purple, yellow, white and red.
•  Favourite patterns are leopard, polka dot and camouflage.
•  Most searched for shapes are the strapless top and the thong bottom.

The hot new item this year is the monokini, a daringly minimal version of the classic swimming costume. For brands, Adidas remains the favourite, but lingerie brands like Freya and La Senza are becoming ever more popular on the beach.

Visits as at June 3^rd 2010, compared with a month before.

Sun tan cream still the most visited online, but fake tan is catching up, rising 228%

London – May 21^st, 2010. Brits are increasingly reaching for the fake tan, confirms Twenga, the new-generation shopping search engine. While traditional sun cream is still the most visited sun care product on www.twenga.co.uk, searches for fake tan are rising the fastest, up 228% in a month.

Buying habits of British consumers are changing, probably due to health concerns and unreliable summers. Between good UV protection and fake bake, their hearts waver:
• Hard core sun worshippers are still snapping up tanning oil, up 127%.
• Moderates are taking more care, with pre-tanning care up 160%, and tan prolonger up 65%.
• For avoiding problems with sand, sun protection spray is increasingly popular, up 126%.
• Tanning pills are up 48%.

Visits as at 20 May 2010, compared with a month before.