E-commerce rising despite downturn

Retailers who scoffed at the Web during the flush days of consumer spending are now diving head first into online initiatives, lured by that channel's resilience in the downturn, reports Reuters.

More resources are pouring into retailers' Web operations, and brands from Juicy Couture to Louis Vuitton are at the forefront of digital measures to drive sales, whether through Facebook pages, Twitter feeds announcing new merchandise, or online communities, according to speakers at the Reuters Global Luxury and Retail Summits.

The once overlooked Web has shot to the top of worldwide retailers' priority lists as the recession has eroded sales at traditional brick-and-mortar stores.

A survey indicates that 80% of the Internet users living in SA buy items and services online, with 58% of them mentioning CDs and DVDs as the most popular products, states The Paypers.

According to the same source, more than three-quarters of those who use the Internet on a regular basis have recently initiated at least one online purchase.

The survey, which comprised 500 respondents in the 18 to 64 age group, was conducted by MasterCard.

Webgistix, an e-commerce order fulfilment company, has introduced an industry first for e-commerce retailers: next-day delivery at ground rates, says Cloud Computing Journal.

This service is available for shipments to customers in the Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Orange County, Phoenix and San Diego metro areas.

“We are continually searching for ways to remove friction from e-commerce order fulfilment,” said Joseph DiSorbo, president of Webgistix.