Book Tries to Make Online Shopping Easier

Sponsored by the online shopping website eHalfOff.com

Hillary Mendelsohn founded the thepurplebook in 2000 after an agonizing attempt to purchase an antique music box online led to hours of searching and turned up more than 400 irrelevant hits. So she started a book (and Web site) inspired by travel and Zagat guides — a guide to online retailers.

The 2006 edition of the book is available at major bookstores and online retailers (Amazon.com, BarnesAndNoble.com, etc.); the 2007 edition is due out in February. Online, thepurplebook (www.thepurplebook.com) offers a subscription site, which can be searched according to category, keyword, product type or gift option. And, unlike many search engines, featured shopping sites do not pay to be listed. Each site listing includes written reviews, customer service ratings and contact information.

Annual subscriptions to www.thepurplebook.com cost $29.99. Is it worth it? If you’re losing hours online trying to find shopping sites, it might be your answer. If you’re just looking for a few ideas on where to go, I’d suggest flipping through the book at the bookstore or library. The book itself only retails for $19.95-$21.99 (2006-2007), but can be found discounted on Amazon for $13.57-$14.95.

Article Source: The State

By 2009 Online Shopping is Estimated to Account for 8% of the Total Retail Sales in Europ

DUBLIN, IRELAND, (NAMC) - Research and Markets has announced the addition of European Retail Market: An Analysis to their offering

This report contains a detailed study about the European retail market and its various segments. The industry can be divided into a number of different formats and the types of such formats are increasing. Moreover, the report talks in details about the broad market segments of the retail market and their respective growth rates and and market share. It also compares the European retail market with the retail market in the US.

Further, the report profiles the leading firms of the industry - Carrefour, Tesco, METRO and Koninklijke Ahold - and compares their competitive positioning. It also talks about the strategies adopted by these firms in details. The report also includes a brief financial analysis of the competing firms. It finally ends with a broad future outlook regarding the industry and its overall performance.

Topics Covered

1. Introduction

1.1 Market Definition

The retail industry in Europe comprises sellers of consumer merchandise, including electronics, food, beverages, apparels, furniture, electrical equipments, and books.

1.2 Market Overview

The Retail Industry can be classified into the following formats:

Super Markets

Hyper Markets

Discount Stores

Convenience Stores

Online Retailing

1.3 Market Size

UK

The UK accounted for 8.6% sale of the top 250 retailers worldwide in 2004

France

French retail sales saw a y-o-y growth of 3.7% in value and 3.8% in volume in June 2006

Germany

In 2006, retail sales in Germany rose by 1.9% y-o-y in June 2006

2. Market Segmentation

2.1 Food and Drinks

The European food retail industry stood at US$1.1 trillion in 2005 an increase of 3.7% from 2004. The market has grown at a CAGR of 3.6% during 2001-05.

2.2 Clothing

In 2005, European retail apparel industry is estimated to have generated sales of US$261.9 billion. The industry recorded sales of US$256.9 billion in 2004, contributing 30.8% to the global apparel industry.

2.3 Electricals

The Europe electrical retail market stood at US$184.3 billion in 2005. The UK market is the largest electrical market in Europe and was worth US$45.5 billion in 2005.

2.4 Beauty Care

The European beauty care market is the largest market in the world and contributed to 35.7% of the global cosmetics market in 2005.

2.5 Department Stores

The department stores in Europe contributed about US$40.8 billion or 8.3% of the global department store sales in 2004.

3. Market Dynamics

3.1 Market Trends

Saturation in Western European Markets

Growth in Alternate Media of Selling

Discount Retailers Rule over Small Retail Chains

Private Labels Demand Surge

3.2 Growth Drivers

Attractive Eastern Europe Markets

Rise in Employment Rate

3.3 E-Retailing in Europe

In 2005, online shopping was 2% of the total retail market in Europe and is estimated to be 8% of the total retail sales by 2009

3.4 US versus European Retailers

Comparison made on the following criteria:

Dominant Retail Format

Business Segments

Top Retailers by Sales

Presence in the Top 100 Retailers

4. Competitor Analysis

4.1 Profile of Market Leaders

The section profiles the top players Carrefour, Tesco, METRO and Koninklijke Ahold.

4.2. Competitive Landscape

Comparison of the competitive positions on the following parameters:

Market Share

Number of Retail Stores

New Store Openings

Planned Store Openings

Sales of Dominant Region

Product Range

Store Footage

Store Formats

4.3 Financial Comparison

4.3.1 Income Statement Analysis

An income statement analysis is based on revenues, net income and profit margins

4.3.2 Balance sheet Analysis

The section includes an analysis of liquidity ratios, performance ratios and debt to equity ratios

4.4 Strategies

The section studies strategies of the competing group of Carrefour, Tesco, METRO and Ahold in detail.

4.4 Recent developments

5. Outlook

The European retail industry has a mixed outlook: while the mature markets of Western Europe show a pessimistic outlook with rising interest rates and unemployment, higher income levels have led to brighter prospects in Eastern Europe.

Tables

Figures

Companies Mentioned

Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Kroger, Sears Holding, Costoco, Target, Albertson, Walgreen, Lowes, Safeway, CVS, BestBuy, Carrefour, Tesco , METRO, Koninklijke Ahold, Marks and Spencers, Karstadt, El Corte Inglés, Kaufhof and John Lewis

Article Source

eHalfOff.com is an online shopping store that specializes in customers' discount shopping experience.

New Zealand does Online Shopping Too!

Here is an article about online shopping from New Zealand (a VERY cool country).

Media giants slug it out over NZ online shopping


By: Ken Lewis

Competition over your online shopping dollar is hotting up with news that ACP Media and APN have joined forces in an effort to tackle Fairfax's online auction giant TradeMe.

The internet arm of The New Zealand Herald's owner, Tony O'Reilly's APN News and Media, has taken a 50 per cent stake in free classified site sellmefree.co.nz, which was created by ACP Media. ACP is New Zealand's leading magazine publisher and is owned by Aussie media prodigy, James Packer.

Sellmefree.co.nz has been quietly building a regular user base since its launch in August 2005 and claims to have published nearly a million free private seller ads online with over 300,000 member accounts now registered.

According to Nielsen/NetRatings, sellmefree.co.nz ranked as the seventh most popular New Zealand Shopping site in the Christmas month of December, recording 49,700 unique browsers. Trademe.co.nz, the country's most popular shopping website, recorded 2.8 million uniques for the same period.

In a joint media release, the ACP and APN said they believed that free, live and multi-media rich trading environments will be an important part of the future of buying and selling general merchandise.

"The proposition for private sellers expecting to sell general goods for free with photos and videos, and for buyers to be able to buy right now is clearly gaining ground," said Heith Mackay-Cruise, chief executive officer of ACP Media.

The release said that immediate benefits of the partnership would be: accelerated development of the product offering, including a free auction service and enhanced multi-media and live functions; a significant investment in marketing; and a major increase in private listing content from print assets in key population centres.

And it seems the concept will not be restricted to New Zealand. A web page called Sellmefree.com.au and registered to A & R Enterprises Pty Ltd Australia is now live, although it only has the words "Coming soon..." displayed.

Article Source

eHalfOff.com is an online shopping store that specializes in customers' discount shopping experience.

Be Careful of Online Fraud

I found this article today. I'm amazed at how some people will lie and cheat others.



Article Source



Michael Benning

KIMT NewsChannel 3

Thursday, January 11, 2007




An area woman wants to file charges against a man she has never even met.



Tammy Halla of Osage says someone broke into an account she had online and tried to charge her credit card. Halla says it's not the first time something like this has happened to her. Four years ago someone stole her identity, and charged her credit card to the tune of $65,000.



That case is unsolved and today she's looking for the other culprit who stole her account online.



Tami Halla hadn't used her Paypal account, which transfers money on popular sites like ebay, in eight months. Then she got an email saying her credit card was being charged nearly $250 for an i-pod.



"You've got to be kidding. That's the first thing I said. No way this is happening," said Halla.
An i-pod she didn't buy, but Josh Barton in Benton Harbor, Michigan did.



"I have no idea who this kid is and what would I do with an i-pod. What would I need an i-pod for? I live out in the country, and I don't need no I-pod," said Halla.



The National Consumers League says internet fraud cost users more than $13 million in 2005. Best Buys Geek squad says one of the most popular ways, is called phishing. It's when an email that looks real is opened, and a hacker is able to steal information.



"They basically look like the genuine thing. If you don't know specifically, I wouldn't mess with it. They will get your info if you respond or click one of their links," said Geek Squad's Michael Kremer.



Kremer says firewalls are your best bet in keeping hackers from stealing credit card information, or passwords you send over the internet. Halla says she's not taking anymore chances.



"I do a lot of shopping on the internet, but I haven't bought anything since this happened. I'm not going to use the internet to buy anything anymore, no card numbers on there," said Halla.



Halla didn't end up having to pay the charge, because the credit card had expired. She has called the Mitchell County attorney and plans to press charges against whoever tried to steal her information.



The number of online fraud accounts is growing significantly every year. The Geek Squad says it is important for users to monitor all their accounts online, no matter how often they use them. That way you can make sure no one has hacked into your information or tried to charge anything to your account.




eHalfOff.com is a new discount shopping website. This blog is a catalog of its progress.



Brought to you by:


WebstoreSolutions.com

Printing-Information.net

Me and the AARP -- Great Minds Think Alike

It looks like the AARP had the same idea for a discount shopping website that I had. Read and enjoy:




Article Source


WASHINGTON, Dec. 13 /U.S. Newswire/ -- AARP Services, Inc. announced today that Power Merchandising Corporation (PMC) is piloting a new AARP member benefit this holiday season called AARP MarketPlace powered by PMC, an exclusive Web site for discount shopping. AARP's 37 million members will enjoy significant discounts of up to 35 percent on more than 500 world- class name brand products, from digital cameras and flat screen televisions to small appliances to luggage and other merchandise. Some of the brands that are available through AARP MarketPlace include: Sony, Motorola, Sharper Image, Tumi, Callaway Golf, Panasonic, Cannon and Garmin. In honor of the launch, the site will offer free standard shipping through December 18, 2006. The site can be accessed by AARP members at http://www.aarp.org/marketplace.





"This new member benefit was launched because we know that AARP members value the discounts and services that they receive with their membership," said Dawn Sweeney, president and CEO of AARP Services, a subsidiary that manages the wide range of products and services that are offered to AARP members. "More and more of our members are shopping online. This new, exciting website will provide them with a safe, friendly shopping environment."





AARP MarketPlace will be available 24 hours a day, seven days per week. By simply logging on to a secured web portal, members will have a fast and easy shopping experience in the privacy of their own home or office.





This new product complements the current products and services available to AARP members by providing members with a safe and secure environment for purchasing leading brand name products at significantly discounted prices.





For more information about AARP MarketPlace powered by PMC or to begin shopping, log on to http://www.aarp.org/marketplace.





-----


About AARP Services





AARP Services, Inc., founded in 1999, is a wholly owned subsidiary of AARP. AARP Services manages the wide range of products and services that are offered as benefits to AARP's 37 million members. The offers span health products, travel and leisure products and life event services. Specific products include Medicare supplemental insurance; member discounts on rental cars, cruises, vacation packages and lodging; special offers on technology and gifts; pharmacy services; legal services and long-term care insurance. AARP Services founded AARP Financial Incorporated, a subsidiary that manages AARP-endorsed financial products including AARP Funds; AARP Services develops new products, manages and markets products and services, creates and maintains partnership and sponsorship relationships and develops and manages AARP's award-winning Web site, http://www.AARP.org.





-----





About AARP





AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP produces AARP The Magazine, published bimonthly; AARP Bulletin, its monthly newspaper; AARP Segunda Juventud, its bimonthly magazine in Spanish and English; NRTA Live & Learn, its quarterly newsletter for 50 plus educators and the Web site, http://www.aarp.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors and sponsors. It has staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.





http://www.usnewswire.com/





eHalfOff.com is a discount shopping website that offers 40%-60% off of everyday products.

Working Hard

I spent most of the evening tonight copying and pasting html code for the website. As I stated in a previous post, I'm in the final stages of selecting a web designer and I want to keep costs as low as possible by sending off as much coding as I can. Today's copying-and-pasting was primarily of the "top sellers" for most of the categories. These are what are known as "dynamic links" because they will change as the top sellers change. I'm hoping that this will really help my discount shopping website be a great destination for many shoppers.

Being Friendly

I came across this press release and thought it was pretty interesting:



24-7PressRelease/ - PLYMOUTH, IN - January 2, 2007 -http://www.topseos.com – Since its beginnings, topseos.com has succeeded in creating a platform for quality internet marketing service providers to display their services to potential clients. And this January 2007, topseos.com is back with the list of the finest Search Engine Friendly Web Design firms, consultants and services.


In the constantly crowding world of the internet it is becoming more and more challenging for website owners to make their site stand out. While visibility will drive the user to the website, a lot more is needed to ensure that they stay on the site. The site should be created in a way that facilitates easy navigation for a user. Oftentimes website owners equate complexity to attractiveness, and in the bargain have a product that is not user friendly. Most people would just click away from such sites. Suffice to say, a website that does not display its information effectively is a failure because it does not meet its fundamental purpose of communicating information.


What turns people off in some cases is heavy content and in others a bad design. Given that a website is a visual media the design element must be given adequate importance. To avoid loss of website traffic one needs to make a design that is search engine friendly. The idea behind search engine friendly web design is to plan sites in such a way that search engines can find them easily.


Once again topseos.com is back with its January 2007 rankings of the top Search Engine Friendly Web Design firms, consultants and services. Here’s the list of the top 5 that have been selected for January 2007.


1. Oxidev Interactive – Florida

2. Deepblue.com – Georgia

3. 4guys.com – Texas

4. 352 Media Group – Florida

5. ecisive.com – Florida


Accurate and up-to-date the growing popularity of the ranking by topseos.com stands as a testimony of its reliability. A meticulous selection process precedes the naming of the top 5 candidates. The selection of the candidates is based on the following criterions:



• Competitive advantage

• Superior services and pricing

• Customer and technical support

• Response to client problems

• Innovations that set it apart from the competition

• Web design, development, and usability

• Link development



Firms that specialize in Search Engine Friendly Web Design and wish to be considered for the topseos.com rankings can complete an application by registering as a service vendor and applying for rankings at:


Company Contact:
topseos.com
Bill Peden
877-506-1167
service@topseos.com
www.topseos.com



Brought to you by WebstoreSolutions.com



Sponsored by the discount shopping website eHalfOff.com.

Test Site Started

I accepted a Scriptlance.com bid today for another project. I'm hiring someone to complete the design of WebstoreSolutions.com. It is a pretty simple job and is costing me significantly less then what my discount shopping website is going to cost. I'm hoping to learn the ropes through this project so I'm better prepared for the next project.