Everyone at the Internet Retailer Conference and Expo (IRCE) has a little kick in their step. The mood is overwhelmingly positive and it casts a pretty clear message that the online retail world is gaining forward momentum. The attendance figures alone even back up this notion: there are over 6,400 attendees – an approximate 20% increase over last year’s showing!

In his opening message, Kurt Peters, Editor in Chief of Internet Retailer, also noted the renewed energy in online retail. His discussed how online revenue has seen a 14.5% increase in Q1 2010 over Q1 2009. As Peters put it, “…it’s the return of double digit growth.” The online retail ecosystem is thriving, and vendors and business alike are seeing growth. It’s an exciting time to be converging with other online retail professionals at IRCE, and even more thrilling to hear how retailers are harnessing new strategies such as mobile and social commerce to grow their brands with confidence.

There’s definitely a new vibe this year, but there’s also another noticeable presence at this year’s show: the iPad. Has anyone else noticed the abundant number of iPad giveaways and raffles? The iPad has taken over IRCE!