Despite pretty dismal overall results for its year to end March 2009, with like-for-like sales down 5.9% and profits down by 38%, Marks and Spencer’s online operations have significantly outperformed the market.

Sales from the company’s website were up 34% and the retailer’s share of the online clothing market increased to 5.3% from 4.5%. Traffic to the site also grew by 36% over the year and the report on its final results also highlights improvements in the site’s performance. “The website successfully traded through its biggest ever day during our One Day Christmas Spectacular in November 2008,” says M&S, noting also that “we ranked top of the latest eDigitalResearch E-Retail Index, up from 10th place previously.”

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