Big Market For Small Retailers

Monday, March 1, 2004

Web ShoppersAre Big Market For Small Retailers (NAPSA)—Online purchasing continues emerging as a mainstream—and often preferred— shopping choice among consumers. In little more than 10 years, e-commerce has evolved from being a novelty to a fact of life for both businesses and millions of increasingly technology-savvy shoppers. And as more people shop online, they report increased levels of satisfaction and security. In an October 2004 survey of 2,500 consumers commissioned by Hostway Corporation, a global Web-hosting provider, 87 percent of respondents said they had bought a product or service from an online retailer, and more than half of these consumers are frequent Web shoppers. Nearly all respondents reported high levels of satisfaction with their online shopping experiences. What’s more, of those who have purchased from large and small retailers, more than threefourths said they’re just as comfortable buying online from small companies. “Small-business owners should view these results as an indicator that consumers are comfortable shopping online,” said John Lee, vice president and general manager of Hostway. “This shows there’s still a huge opportunity for small businesses, and that the Internet really is leveling the playing field for small companies.” The majority of business owners have realized the potential of having a Web site presence. According to a study conducted in April 2004 by Harris Interactive, 85 percent of small-business owners feel that having a Web site is the most important tool to ex- panding their business. Seventy Web-savvy consumers are in- creasingly comfortable buying online from small and big retailers alike. percent of all small businesses in the U.S. had or planned on having a Website by the end of 2004. It’s not too late for small com- panies to join the Internet Age. For example, Hostway, in partnership with chambers of commerce nationwide, will provide chamber members with free Web-hosting services for a limited time, as well as free educational material about online business. Oneof the best ways to reach consumers is to be available to them at their convenience. The Internet allows consumers to shop on their own time with the same amount of purchasing power found in an actualstore. “Our goal is to help small businesses grow and function at their highest potential,” said Lee. “By educating small-business owners on the simplicity behind creating a Web site, we can truly provide a Website for every business.” To learn more information on Hostway’s “A Web Site for Every Business” campaign, visit the Web site at: www.hostway.com/chamber.