Limited selection at Woolworths online

Woolworths is one of the largest retailers in SA, operating a chain of more than 120 stores, which sell a select range of textiles and foods under the Woolworths brand name.

In addition, the company has recently acquired a controlling stake in Country Road, an Australian retailer of clothing, accessories and homeware.

The JSE-listed company has at last taken its wares online, and while the site is loaded with useful information, Woolies patrons will have to wait a while before they can make major purchases online.

The site is pleasantly designed and well laid out. With lots of white space, it extends on the light and airy feel of Woolies` brick and mortar branches.

The site features two navigation bars - a "features" bar on the right, which is updated regularly, and an anchored bar on the bottom of the page which takes you to various "regular" sections, such as Ladies Outerwear, Health and Beauty, Children`s Wear and Foods and Wines. The "W" logo anchored to the right can be used to return back to the home page at any time.

All links work smoothly and there is little chance of stumbling across a dead-end or broken link.

There is an incredible amount of information available on the Woolies site, from details on the special features of certain products, to recipes, wine guides and Asian cooking - however, there is very little that is actually up for purchase on the site itself.

Pretty much the only products on offer are an online gift voucher service and a flower purchase and delivery service - which can both be sourced elsewhere on the Web and thus are not really an exclusive product or service.

One can`t even apply for a Woolies card online - you`ve got to e-mail a request, and then await a hard copy application form in the mail.

Strictly speaking, since this site has very little to offer in the way of online purchasing, there`s not that much of an option to test its transaction processing or customer fulfilment.

However, Richard Inskip, Woolworths` information and technology services director, assures ITWeb that a project aimed at re-launching the site with more extensive e-commerce options is underway; the initial fruits of which should be accessible within the next three months.