According to the new partnership, NSDesign will offer current customers a range of SafeBuy services including official web retailer accreditation and access to the terms and conditions of the UK Office of Fair Trading (oft.gov.uk), which enforces consumer protection and competition law and reviews merger proposals.

SafeBuy also helps clients adhere to European standards such as the UK Sale of Goods Act, European Union Distance Selling Regulations and the EU Directive on Privacy and Electronic Communications.

Commenting on the benefit to their customers, "Gaining the shopper's trust is often the hardest part of selling online, especially if you're a small, web retailer without a well-known brand," NSDesign Director Gary Ennis said in a statement. "Adding the SafeBuy seal of approval to your site helps build shopper confidence, and provides you with an official accreditation for your web site, which is backed by a Code of Practice approved by the Office of Fair Trading."

SafeBuy Managing Director Richard Jones said he is pleased to partner with NSDesign because it increases awareness of industry standards, which results in more secure businesses and safer online shopping.

According to statistics cited by SafeBuy, online sales in the UK accounted for about 8 percent of all retail sales at the start of 2008.